Coronavirus: UK records another 174 COVID-19 deaths and 23,012 more cases
Written by News on 24/10/2020
The UK has reported another 174 coronavirus deaths and 23,012 more cases in the latest 24-hour period.
The amount of positive tests is higher than the 20,530 infections confirmed on Friday, government data showed.
The number of fatalities – within 28 days of a diagnosis – is fewer than yesterday’s total of 224, while 44,745 people have died with the disease in total.
According to the government’s coronavirus dashboard, 7,850 patients are currently being treated in hospital, with 743 in ventilator beds.
The number of tests carried out in the latest daily period was 340,132.
In England, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has estimated that 1 in 130 people had COVID-19 between 10 and 16 October, and around 433,300 people in the country were infected.
The previous week’s estimate suggested 1 in 160 people had the virus.
“The highest COVID-19 infection rates continue to be seen in the North West, Yorkshire and The Humber and the North East,” the ONS said.
The biggest increase was identified in older teenagers and young adults.
The UK’s coronavirus reproduction (R) number has fallen slightly to 1.2-1.4, according to the latest figures.
Last week’s estimate from government scientific advisers SAGE was 1.3-1.5.
The Welsh government, meanwhile, has defended its decision to stop supermarkets selling non-essential items during the 17-day lockdown the country has now entered.
It tweeted: “The purpose of selling essential items only during firebreak is to discourage spending more time than necessary in shops and to be fair to retailers who have to close.
“This is not for the sake of being difficult – we need to do everything we can to minimise the time we spend outside our homes.
“This will help save lives and protect the NHS.”
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: UK records another 174 COVID-19 deaths and 23,012 more cases
