UK coronavirus cases jump by 938 in biggest rise for 38 days and 9 more die amid fears of further lockdowns
CORONAVIRUS cases have jumped by 938 today - in the biggest rise for 38 days.
The increase is more than a third higher than last Monday when there were 685 cases - and worryingly close to the Government's target of keeping new infections below 1,000 a day.
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Another nine people have died, taking the total death toll to 46,210.
All of today’s fatalities occurred in England.
There have now been 305,623 people infected with coronavirus, according to today's government figures.
But the rise in cases could also be down to more testing across the nation as opposed to a higher infection rate.
Writing in , Professor Carl Heneghan from the University of Oxford examined the number of tests in all healthcare settings (Pillar 1) and in the wider community (Pillar 2).
He wrote: "On 1 July the number of tests administered over a seven-day moving average was 41,109 for Pillar 1 and 43,161 for Pillar 2.
"By 31 July, the Pillar 1 seven-day average for testing had increased to 49,543 (a 20 per cent increase), while Pillar 2 testing had risen more – by 82 per cent to 78,522 tests."
And he concluded that for the number of cases per 100,000 tests: "Pillar 1 is now still trending down, but Pillar 2 is flatlining.
"The increase in the number of cases detected is likely due to the increase in testing in Pillar 2."
The figures found only 100 patients are being hospitalised each day, suggesting an increase in the number of tests given out to people with mild symptoms is behind the rising transmission rates.
It comes as
- No10 confirmed London and other major cities could be locked down with travel in and out banned if coronavirus cases worsen
- Brits have started to take advantage of the Chancellor's 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme
- The PM remained adamant that schools in England will reopen in Autumn for "all year groups"
- A top cop blasted a nightclub after it became the first in Britain to re-open during the coronavirus crisis – just six miles away from the Greater Manchester lockdown zone.
The most recent figures on admissions - which only go up to August 1 because of delays in hospital registrations - shows that 104 people were hospitalised with the virus in England and Wales on July 31.
This compares to around 3,500 at the peak of the pandemic.
The North West has the highest number of cases with 46,739 while Yorkshire and the Humber is second with 32,376.
East Midlands, which was the first region to suffer a localised lockdown after restrictions were eased, has 23,683 infections - lower than London at 35,706 and the South East at 35,593.
Meanwhile the South West has the lowest rate of infections with 13,397 cases.
England has by far the most cases of coronavirus with 263,602 infections, while Scotland has 18,694, Wales, 17,339 and Northern Ireland 5,988.
However, the death toll and infection rate is usually higher than the figures released on a Monday due to a lag in collating the weekend's data.
It comes after Greater Manchester and parts of Yorkshire were placed on a government enforced lockdown over fears of a second wave.
Meanwhile Downing Street today confirmed powers to ban movement in and out of coronavirus hotspots could be used to curb the spread of Covid-19.
No10 said it wouldn’t rule out locking down London - with residents banned from travelling beyond the M25, which surrounds the capital.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan blasted the proposal and hit out at Downing Street for not including him in talks.
However the PM today insisted schools will "reopen for all pupils" in Autumn - despite him hitting the brakes on easing the lockdown.
SLOWING DOWN
The death toll rose by just eight on Sunday – which was the lowest increase since before lockdown began.
But Boris Johnson is preparing to ban indoor get-togethers over fears of a second wave of the virus.
The Prime Minister is poised to burst the “bubble” system which allows separate households to meet under one roof.
Last week, he put the brakes on lockdown easing measures after cases in the UK more than doubled in just a fortnight.
The PM said on Friday that he was ditching plans to reopen close contact services like bowling alleys, ice rinks and allow people to get their eyebrows done again, after rises in cases.
A more severe regional lockdown may be imposed in a wider area of North West England, where infection rates are at their highest.
But another option is a ban on bubbles, which allow up to 30 people from two households to meet indoors.
And experts are looking at plans for sick, older and vulnerable people to be ordered to stay at home.
Brits aged between 50 and 70 could be given personalised risk ratings in a move that would add to the 2.2million people who shielded during the spring peak, The Sunday Times reports.
It comes just days after 4.5million people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire were hit with new restrictions.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was introducing the clampdown with a “heavy heart” - but was "chilled" by soaring infection rates in Northern England.
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A No 10 source said: "Another national lockdown is like our nuclear deterrent — we will never rule it out but it should be the very last resort in the fight against Covid."
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The Prime Minister has repeatedly told Brits during speeches that he wants to avoid another national shutdown, and instead implement local lockdowns - like the one enforced this week in Greater Manchester.
It comes over fears the UK is at a 'tipping point'.