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VIRUS TOLL
UK coronavirus cases nearly triple in 2 weeks with 17,540 positive today as SAGE expert says bug has ‘gun to UK’s head’
THE number of UK coronavirus cases jumped by 17,540 today - as a SAGE expert warned the bug has a "gun to the head" of the country.
Cases have nearly tripled in two weeks with 561,815 testing positive for the bug in total in Britain.
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Another 77 more deaths were confirmed today, bringing Britain's overall Covid death toll to 42,592.
Today's rise in infections is the second highest daily rise ever - and 3,000 more than yesterday's (14,162).
It is also well over double last Thursday's spike, when 6,914 more cases were logged and almost triple the rise a fortnight ago (6,634).
It comes after Public Health England admitted they had missed 15,841 cases from their official stats between September 25 and October 2.
The backlog led to an over-inflated record high of 22,961 additional cases on Sunday.
Professor John Edmunds, who sits on the Government's SAGE committee, said it would not be long until the health service would be stretched in the North of England.
He denied scientists were "holding a gun to the PM's head" on the restrictions.
"It's the virus holding a gun to the PM's head," he said.
The current infection rate is still believed to be smaller, however, than at the peak of the pandemic, when it is likely 100,000 cases were being reported every day through March and April.
'NORTH/SOUTH DIVIDE'
It comes after the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region claimed the government is treating the North "like a petri dish" for local lockdown experiments as harsher restrictions are considered.
He said: "What we've seen is an ever-widening North/South divide in measures being taken. Quite simply the North should not be a petri dish for experimentation by central government."
Hospital admissions in the North West could reach the same peak as in April by the end of October, leaked documents revealed today.
The number of Covid patients in intensive care could also surpass the April peak in the north of England if infections continue rising at the current rate, MPs were warned in a briefing chaired by Chris Whitty today.
MPs were told there would be 304 people in intensive care units across the north of England in 22 days on the current trajectory.
This is two more than in the peak of the first wave in April in the region.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Nadine Dorries warned that the nation's hospital admissions will be at a "critical stage" within ten days and "we must do all we can" to stop them being overwhelmed.
It comes as...
- Hospital admissions in North West ‘could reach April peak by end of October’ say leaked docs
- Police crack down on travellers not wearing face masks at busy stations as Covid cases rise
- North lockdown restrictions: Boris Johnson to announce tougher coronavirus rules on Monday shutting pubs and restaurants
- Coronavirus map reveals full list of risk areas ahead of Boris’ ‘traffic light’ system
- 24 people die after major coronavirus outbreak at Wales hospital ‘linked to super-spreader’
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director for Public Health England today acknowledged the "very concerning" sustained rise in infections.
She said: “We are seeing a definite and sustained increase in cases and admissions to hospital. The trend is clear, and it is very concerning.
“It remains essential that we all continue to socially distance, wash our hands regularly, wear a face covering when needed, and follow the guidance if living in an area with additional restrictions.
“Numbers of deaths from Covid-19 are also rising so we must continue to act to reduce transmission of this virus.”
The latest records show there are currently 3,412 people in hospital with coronavirus.
Of these patients, 442 are on ventilators.
In England, a further 43 fatalities were confirmed, bringing the number of Covid deaths in English hospitals to 30,323.
The patients, who died between August 10 and October 7, were aged between 32 and 99 - and all but one had underlying health conditions.
Scotland recorded another five deaths today while Wales and Northern Ireland each recorded one.
It brings the overall Covid death tolls in those countries to 2,538, 1,644 and 587 respectively.
It comes as Boris Johnson prepares to unveil a simplified three-tier local lockdown code next week.
In plans signed off at a ministerial “gold command” meeting last night, Tier 1 will see current social distancing measures, the “rule of six” and a pub curfew of 10pm enforced.
Areas in Tier 2 will have the same restrictions plus a ban on households mixing.
Vast swathes of the virus-hit North West and North East would automatically fall under Tier 3, in which pubs, restaurants and other hospitality businesses will be shut.
People will not be able to mix households — except those with exemptions — and will have to abide by the national social distancing laws, such as wearing face masks.
A leaked document obtained by the today showed that they were going to be announced on Monday, and come into effect on Wednesday next week.
It also claimed that levels one and two had been agreed - but the final top tier was still under consideration.
It said: “Level One and Two measures have now been signed off by Covid O committee but there is further work ongoing on Level 3."
Ministers are still working out other details, such as whether leisure centres and hairdressers stay open or shut.
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Schools, work and retail shops will stay open.
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The measures will be imposed for a limited period — certainly for some weeks — but are yet to be fully agreed.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to bail out blighted businesses, with workers entitled to a new form of furlough.
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Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick refuses to rule out closing pubs in bid to stop rise in coronavirus cases in North West and North West