CASES CLIMB
UK coronavirus cases rise by 6,178 in 24 hours in the third highest day EVER
UK coronavirus cases have risen by 6,178 in 24 hours in the third highest day ever.
The concerning climb brings the total number of people infected by the bug to 409,729.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
3
3
3
Another 37 deaths were recorded in the past 24 hours - bringing the total to 41,862.
The number of cases is a 55 per cent jump compared to the 3,991 infections reported this time last week.
The last highest number of daily cases came on May 1 with 6,201 infections.
Before that infection figures peaked on April 5, the peak of the pandemic, with 6,199.
The UK's positivity rate - the ratio of positive tests to number of tests overall - is now at 2.51 per cent, compared with below one per cent for most of July and early August.
This is edging towards the World Health Organisation's recommended level of below 5 per cent and suggests that the number of infections is growing.
The new figures come as:
- Boris Johnson urges Brits to pull together to avoid 2nd lockdown
- Top SAGE scientist warns second UK covid lockdown on the way
- Scotland records biggest EVER rise in coronavirus cases
- Boris Johnson faces major Tory rebellion over new lockdown rules
The sharp increase in cases comes as Boris Johson laid out his battle-plan against a second wave of coronavirus.
Mr Johnson told Brits urged Brits to show "discipline, resolve, and the spirit of togetherness" to get Britain through the "difficult" winter months to come - or face a new national lockdown.
Sir Patrick Vallance warned Brits on Monday that the increase in positive cases is not just because more people are being tested than earlier in the pandemic.
Speaking on Monday he said: “Could that increase be due to increased testing? The answer is no.
“We see an increase in positivity of the tests done, so we see the proportion of people testing positive has increased even if testing stays flat.”
Chief Medical Officer Prof Chris Whitty echoed these thoughts, adding: "in every age group we've seen an increase".
He then explained this was because of an increase in test positivity and results of an ONS study, which says around 70,000 people in the UK have Covid-19.
SCOT CASES SOARING
Today Scotland has recorded its own biggest ever rise in coronavirus cases as 486 people have tested positive in the past 24 hours.
Nicola Sturgeon today said the country was at its "tipping point" as more measures have had to come in to slow the spread of the killer bug.
Scotland is carrying out about 10 times more tests every day than it was during the height of the pandemic in April, Ms Sturgeon added.
The First Minister said today: "The total number of positive cases reported yesterday was 486 - that is the highest number of positive cases we have ever recorded in a single day.
"It must be remembered that many more people are being tested now than was the case in the spring.
"Nevertheless, today's number represents 7.8% of people newly tested.
"That is obviously a real cause for concern, but it also underlines why we took very decisive and very tough action yesterday."
ON THE RISE
It comes after cases have rocketed by 4,926 in 24 hours yesterday with another 37 people losing their lives.
The infections were the highest since May 7, which saw which saw 5,614 new cases.
While it was the highest number of deaths since July 14, when 44 were logged.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Scotland increased by 383 in the past 24 hours.
One new death of a confirmed patient was recorded and the death toll was logged at 2,506.
There were 281 more cases of in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 21,159.
No deaths were reported, Public Health Wales said, with the grim tally remaining at 1,603.
PULL TOGETHER
Yesterday Boris Johnson warned the nation that "your cough could be someone else's death knell" as he begged Brits to pull together to defeat the virus.
In a message of hope he said: "I am more certain than ever that this is a struggle that humanity will win, and we in this country will win."
However, for the first time he entertained the possibility of a "tougher" new national lockdown and what it would mean for the country, just weeks after he lifted restrictions.
Mr Johnson warned he would have no choice but to impose “significantly greater restrictions” later this year if the new measures fail to bring the ‘R’ value of the virus below 1.
SECOND LOCKDOWN
Top SAGE scientists have told the PM that a new lockdown with more "stringent" measures on the cards must come soon.
Professor Chris Whitty is understood to have explained that a 10pm curfew and extra face masks might not be enough to get the epidemic under control again.
SAGE member John Edmunds blasted the Government's new measures for "not going far enough" and warns more "stringent" measures will have to be put in place across the whole of the UK in the coming months.
Professor Edmunds, who is the head of Epidemiology and Population Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told Radio 4 today: "I don't think the measures have gone anywhere near far enough.
"We have to put stringent measures in place, and as fast as possible.
Most read in News
"I suspect we will see very stringent measures coming into place throughout the UK again at some point. But it will be too late again
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"We will have let the epidemic double and double and double again until we do take those measures
"We didn't react quick enough in March, we haven't learned enough... and we are about to repeat it."
Boris Johnson threatens national lockdown in TV address and warns nation 'your cough could be someone's death knell' 1-1
Topics