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UK records highest ever daily case toll of 58,784 as new infections pass 50K mark for seventh day in a row
THE UK recorded 58,784 Covid cases today - its highest ever daily figure - as new infections passed the 50,000 mark for the seventh day in a row.
Cases have remained high for a week now as hospitals struggle to cope with patient numbers - with 407 new deaths today.
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Thousands of people are becoming infected each day after mingling at Christmas and as the new mutated strain spreads.
A total of 75,431 people have now died since the start of the pandemic, with 2,713,563 cases reported.
This afternoon the Covid-19 alert level was raised to five for the first time - the highest setting.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director for Public Health England (PHE), said: “The continuous rise in cases and deaths should be a bitter warning for us all. We must not forget the basics – the lives of our friends and family depend on it.
“Keep your distance from others, wash your hands and wear a mask. This virus will transmit wherever you let your guard down.”
It came as:
- Boris Johnson is due to address the nation this evening
- An 82-year-old man became the first person to get the Oxford AstraZeneca jab this morning as the new vaccine was rolled out to hospitals
- Education unions said staff were at "serious risk" of infection by returning to schools and called on the Prime Minister to meet to discuss safety
- Hospitals across the country are filling up with more Covid patients - with now a quarter more people needing treatment there than in the first wave
- CMO Chris Whitty was spotted at No10 today for talks with senior officials
Today Nicola Sturgeon plunged Scotland in a lockdown to last all of January.
There will be a legal stay-at-home order from 12am - just like last March - with £60 minimum fines for breaches, the First Minister said this afternoon.
Ms Sturgeon told MSPs this lunchtime she was more concerned right now than at any point since March.
It comes as the UK is heading towards a third national lockdown - with the Prime Minister due to address the nation tonight.
The PM's admission came as Matt Hancock said the Government could introduce another national lockdown in England - and the current Tier 3 is not strong enough to contain the new spread.
The Health Secretary said nothing was off the table as the Government mull new measures to try and crack down on the case numbers - which have reached record highs in the past week.
The PM - who is currently facing calls for another full-scale shutdown from Labour - said today tougher measures will be announced soon to control the coronavirus.
Speaking during a visit to Chase Farm Hospital in north London to meet some of the first people to receive the Oxford vaccine on Monday Mr Johnson said there were "tough tough" weeks to come.
In his first national interview wearing a mask, he added: "If you look at the numbers there's no question we will have to take tougher measures and we will be announcing those in due course."
He admitted that people have become "impatient" and "frustrated" with the rules - but he begged them to obey them until the vaccine can be rolled out further.
Additional restrictions - dubbed Tier 5 - are also being considered, but ministers say there are no current plans for an additional official Tier.
Government sources have played down the prospect of a national curfew or restrictions on exercising outside, but have warned the rules may last for months to come.
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The Government's Covid-O committee, which makes decisions on restrictions, will meet in the coming days, and Mr Hancock has stressed the data is being looked at daily.
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But an online calculator is telling millions they won't be in line until 2022 - and that's providing the speed of vaccinating can be significantly ramped up.
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