UK records another 20,263 Covid cases as 232 more die

It comes as a new strain of Covid-19 was detected in the country.

Another 20,263 cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the UK, on the day London was plunged into tier three restrictions. 

232 more people have died with Covid-19, according to the latest official figures. 

That brings the death toll to 64,170 and the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 1,869,666. Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies alongside deaths in recent days, show there have now been 80,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

Earlier today, NHS England said that a further 179 people who tested positive for the virus had died in the country’s hospitals, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in the setting to 44,464.

Patients were aged between 40 and 99. All except four, aged between 74 and 92, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between December 5 to December 13.

Seven other deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.

In Scotland, no new deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, Nicola Sturgeon said. 

But the First Minister confirmed that there had been 734 new cases in the past 24 hours.

It means a total of 106,904 people have now tested positive in the country, while 4,111 have died. 

There have been a further 1,228 cases of coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of confirmed cases there to 101,953.

Public Health Wales reported another 33 deaths, taking the country’s total to 2,882.

But there is growing concern about hospital capacity in the country – an issue also facing Northern Ireland, where hospital occupancy on Monday was 98%.

There have been a further five deaths with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, bringing the region’s toll to 1,129.

Department of Health figures also confirmed another 419 new cases of the virus, meaning the overall total now stands at 58,635.

The latest figures come as London was told it would be put into tier three on Wednesday, with cases rising across the capital. 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a new strain of the virus which spreads more quickly has been identified and could be behind the rise in cases. 

More to follow.

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