UK records highest daily rise in Covid deaths since June

The number of people who have died in the UK as a result of Covid-19 has gone up by 143 in one day, the highest increase in four months.

A further 17,234 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the UK, according to new government figures based on laboratory tests. The figure for deaths is the highest daily reported since 164 deaths were reported on 10 June.

It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 634,920 and is a major escalation on the 13,972 new cases confirmed on Monday. The figures were accurate up to 9am on Tuesday morning.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England, said it was “hugely concerning” that the trend in Covid-related deaths was starting to rise quickly.

“We have seen cases increasing especially in older age groups which is leading to more hospital admissions,” she added.

“This is a stark reminder for us to follow the guidelines. Importantly, do not mix with others when unwell.”

The death toll is also close to the 200 deaths a day which Boris Johnson’s chief scientific advisors, Patrick Vallance and Chris Whitty, had warned would happen by mid-November if a surge three weeks ago continued unchecked.

The figures were described as “utterly grim” by the Labour deputy leader, Angela Rayner, who tweeted that local lockdowns “have clearly not worked.”

“The PM has no plan to get a grip of this crisis or get us through the winter. Abject failure.”

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have now been 58,500 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The data from the Office of National Statistics recorded that there were 321 Covid-19 deaths in the week ending 2 October – with north-west England recording the highest number, at 106.

The region has been the focus of the most severe level of new lockdown restrictions unveiled by the Westminster government on Monday. So far, Merseyside is the only place to move into the highest tier 3 level, with pubs and bars closed, and a ban on mixing between households in almost all circumstances.

The region has also agreed to close gyms, leisure centres, casinos, betting shops and adult gaming shops.

In Scotland, 487 Covid-19 patients were in hospital as of Monday, up from 218 a week earlier, with 36 in ventilation beds, up from 22 a week earlier.

A total of 348 Covid patients were in hospital in Wales as of Monday, up from 249 a week earlier, with 30 in ventilation beds, down from 32 a week earlier.

In Northern Ireland, 140 Covid patients were in hospital as of Sunday, up from 116 a week earlier, with 15 in ventilation beds as of Monday, up from eight a week earlier.