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.
UK’s R number now between 1 and 1.4
The reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus transmission across the UK is between 1 and 1.4, the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has revealed.
When R was last updated on 23 December, it was between 1.1 and 1.3.
R represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect.
When the figure is above 1, an outbreak can grow exponentially.
An R number between 1 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 14 other people.
Moderna vaccine approval ‘excellent news’, says PM
Prime minister Boris Johnson tweeted it was "excellent news" the Moderna vaccine had been approved for use in the UK.
1 in 20 people have Covid-19 in some parts of London, says mayor
London mayor Sadiq Khan has said that while on average 1 in 30 people have Covid-19 in London, in some parts of the capital 1 in 20 people now have the virus.
More than 30,000 fines handed out for Covid breaches
More than 30,000 fines have been handed out by police for breaches of Covid-19 laws since they came into force, new figures show.
Data published by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) on Friday shows a total of 32,329 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) were issued by forces in England and Wales between March 27 and December 21 last year.
The report said there has been a downward trend in recent weeks following a rise in fines as restrictions were tightened from September, with the peak of 3,288 coming during the week of the Easter Bank Holiday in April.
The most recent weekly figures showed 542 tickets were handed out in the week to December 17, compared with 821 in the previous seven days.
Londoners’ actions ‘have never been more important’
Londoners' actions have “never been more important” than now as a major incident is declared in the capital amid surging coronavirus cases, the city's regional director of Public Health England has said.
Professor Kevin Fenton said: "This is the biggest threat our city has faced in this pandemic to date.
"In order to ease the burden on our hospitals, we must first stop the spread. That means we have to stay at home. Cut your contacts, reduce your movements, do as little as possible.
"A lot has been asked of Londoners over the past 12 months but your decisions and actions right now have never been more important."
London police officers told to give Covid fines more quickly as capital declares ‘major incident’
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist, who leads the Metropolitan Police response to the Covid pandemic, has released a statement in response to the announcement that London has declared a major incident.
He said the announcement by mayor Sadiq Khan was a “stark reminder of the critical point we are at”, adding: “Now more than ever is the moment for people to stick to the rules, and stay at home.”
“There can be no doubt that right now we find ourselves at a serious and dangerous crossroads for London; everyone must look at this news and understand that our health service is nearing breaking point,” he said.
"I know Londoners will be shocked that officers are still dealing with a small selfish minority who think the rules don't apply to them by holding house parties, large warehouse raves or other gatherings. These are creating breeding grounds for the much more transmissible variant.
“Earlier this week, the Met issued refreshed instructions to officers to issue fines more quickly to anyone committing obvious, wilful and serious breaches. That is happening and it will continue to happen."
‘We tried. We really tried’
Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, an intensive care registrar and president of the Doctors Association, tweeted: "We tried. We really tried.
"NHS staff pleaded with people that Christmas is not worth it. Now 1 in 30 people in London have Covid and ICUs are overwhelmed. My heart is broken."
London MPs told to urgently issue Stay at Home message
Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted: "Just received briefing from NHS on the current Covid situation in London.
“Our hospitals are being severely stretched. It's tough for NHS workers, who are heroically working hard to cope.
"The message that they have asked all London MPs to put out urgently is please Stay at Home."
London’s landmarks turn blue
A number of London’s iconic landmarks have been lit up blue in a renewed gesture of thanks to the NHS and frontline workers.
Blue lights beamed from the spires of The Shard, as well as the globe atop Madame Tussauds yesterday evening.
London landmarks turn blue to honour NHS heroes
Sadiq Khan, says, ‘It is a very challenging time for our city and nation, and we owe a great debt to our NHS’
UK records highest daily Covid death toll
The UK has recorded a further 1,325 coronavirus deaths on Friday, the largest daily increase since the pandemic began.
This marks the third day in a row that more than 1,000 have died in the UK from the virus.
UK records highest daily Covid death toll since pandemic started
The UK has recorded a further 1,325 deaths from coronavirus, the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.
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