Covid news: UK records highest daily death toll as Whitty to front new ‘stay at home’ TV campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK has reported 1,325 more coronavirus deaths, its highest daily total since the pandemic began, as a new TV campaign fronted by Professor Chris Whitty urges people in England to stay home.
The new death figures surpassed the previous record of 1,224 set in April and fuelled fears the current lockdown is not working.
Meanwhile, new adverts in England emphasise the risk posed by the new strain of the disease and how stretched hospitals are becoming, while driving home the country’s “stay at home” message.
It comes as London mayor Sadiq Khan declared a “major incident” in the capital, as one in 20 people now have Covid-19 in some parts of the city.
The mayor told LBC one in 30 people in London on average have the virus, “but in some parts of London one out of 20 Londoners now has this virus”.
City Hall said Covid-19 cases in London have exceeded 1,000 per 100,000, while there are 35 per cent more people in hospital with the virus than at the peak of the pandemic in April.
It comes after the UK’s medicines watchdog approved the Moderna vaccine for use, making it the third one given the go ahead after the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford-AstraZeneca jabs.
Six in 10 hospital trusts have more Covid-19 patients than first wave peak
More than half of all major hospital trusts in England currently have more Covid-19 patients than at the peak of the first wave of the virus, new analysis shows.
In two regions - eastern England and south-east England - more than three-quarters of trusts are above their first-wave peak.
Other trusts have seen their numbers rise so rapidly that they could pass their first-wave peak within days.
Analysis by PA news agency found that of 139 acute hospital trusts who reported figures for January 5, 84 - or 60 per cent - had more Covid-19 patients than at the peak of the first wave in spring 2020.
Watchdog approves Moderna jab
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has approved the Moderna coronavirus vaccine for use in the UK, the Department for Health has announced.
Business secretary Alok Sharma said an extra 10 million doses had been secured.
Moderna becomes third Covid vaccine to be approved for use in UK
The UK has approved the Moderna Covid vaccine for use, following the same move by the EU earlier in the week.
Moderna deliveries ‘to begin in spring’
Department of Health officials say deliveries of the Moderna jab are due to start in the spring. It’s recommended the second dose is administered 28 days after the first.
Restrictions tightened in Wales
Wales's lockdown restrictions will be further strengthened in supermarkets, workplaces and schools and colleges in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus, first minister Mark Drakeford has announced.
The Welsh leader said the new faster spreading strain of the virus was "adding a dangerous dimension to the pandemic" and meant the nationwide lockdown would continue for at least another three weeks.
Mr Drakeford said Wales's level four measures would need to be reinforced in three areas, including in essential shops so they offer a level of protection "as in the early days of the pandemic".
"Those who work and shop in supermarkets need the confidence of knowing that numbers are carefully and consistently controlled and that all other measures are in place to keep us safe," he said.
"The key instruction is to stay at home. But some people are unable to work from home. So the second area where we will look to strengthen protection is in the workplace. “The new strain of the virus is so much more contagious that we have to look again at the defences in place to keep workplaces safe, working with employers and trade unions to do so.”
He said ministers were bringing decisions about schools and colleges into line with the three-week review cycle. Pupils will be taught online until 29 January at the earliest, but "unless there is a significant reduction in cases of coronavirus by the next review, this will continue until the February half-term".
UK is world’s most Covid-infected major country
The UK has more new Covid-19 cases per capita than any other major country in the world, the latest data reveals. Anthony Cuthbertson analyses the figures:
The UK is currently the most infected country in the world per capita
New daily infections have risen from 15,000 to 60,000 since early December – and continue to climb
Mayor of London declares ‘major incident’
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has just declared a "major incident" over the increase of Covid-19 cases in the capital's hospitals, saying: "The situation in London is now critical with the spread of the virus out of control."
London has exceeded 1,000 Covid cases per 100,000, says City Hall
City Hall said Covid-19 cases in London had exceeded 1,000 per 100,000, while there are 35 per cent more people in hospital with the virus than in the peak of the pandemic in April.
A "major incident" means the "severity of the consequences" associated with it are "likely to constrain or complicate the ability of responders to resource and manage the incident".
London mayor declares ‘major incident’ as Covid cases surge
London mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a “major incident” in the capital because of the pressure of Covid-19 on the city’s health and emergency services.
Follow our breaking news story for more updates on this:
London mayor declares ‘major incident’ as Covid cases surge
London mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a “major incident” in the capital because of the pressure of Covid-19 on the city’s health and emergency services.
Khan asks PM for more financial support for Londoners and extra precautions
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has written to the prime minister asking for more financial support for Londoners who need to self-isolate and are unable to work, and for daily vaccination data.
He is also asking for the closure of places of worship and for face masks to be worn routinely outside of the home, including in crowded places and supermarket queues.
Mayor implores Londoners to stay at home
Sadiq Khan has implored Londoners to stay at home.
“I am imploring Londoners to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave,” he tweeted.
“Stay at home to protect yourself, your family, your friends and all other Londoners.”
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