Coronavirus: UK daily cases and deaths remain steady, official figures show
Written by News on 15/10/2020
The UK daily number of coronavirus cases and COVID-related deaths has remained very similar to yesterday’s numbers.
Government figures show that another 18,980 confirmed cases have been reported.
On Wednesday, 19,724 cases were reported.
The official government data website shows a further 138 deaths have been recorded, compared with 137 yesterday.
Coronavirus cases had been rising throughout the week as the government attempts to get a handle on a spike in infections across the country.
The latest figures bring the total number of positive cases to 673,622 and the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 43,293.
Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 58,500 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
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Hospital admissions for COVID-19 have now reached their highest level since mid-May, new figures show.
792 patients were admitted to hospital in the last 24 hours across the UK, up from 680 yesterday, according to official data.
That’s a rise of more than 16% to reach the highest daily total since 21 May.
There are now 4,941 patients in hospital with the virus.
There has also been a jump in patients needing a ventilator to help with their breathing – up to 563, a rise of 47 since Wednesday.
There is growing concern about the steep rise in seriously ill people, particularly in hotspots of the virus.
Doctors in the North West have warned that some hospitals could run out of beds within days.
The new statistics also show that 18,980 people tested positive for the virus, a slight drop on Wednesday’s total of 19,724.
However, the figure only counts those who develop symptoms and are able to access a test.
Government scientists estimated last week that the true number of daily infections was somewhere between 27,000 and 57,000.
They will update their estimate on Friday.
More areas of England are set to move to Tier 2 lockdown restrictions on Saturday.
London, Essex, Elmbridge, Barrow-in-Furness, North East Derbyshire, Erewash, Chesterfield and York are moving to the “high risk” category, meaning different households cannot meet indoors.
Southend and Thurrock in Essex are not included in the new measures because they are unitary authorities.
The government is also in talks with Greater Manchester leaders about moving the area into Tier 3, the toughest set of restrictions, which would see household mixing banned completely and pubs and bars closed.
Leaders in the North West have rejected the proposals, saying they “will not be the canaries in the coal mine” and have slammed the plans as “flawed” unless improved financial support is offered.
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: UK daily cases and deaths remain steady, official figures show
