London, United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, in full swing of the epidemic of covid-19 attributed to a mutation in the virus, recorded 53,135 new cases on Tuesday, a record number, according to a government balance sheet.
This increase brings the total number of registered cases to 2,382,865 since the beginning of the pandemic, including 71,567 deaths (+414 announced on Tuesday).
“We continue to see unprecedented levels of COVID-19 infection across the UK, which is extremely worrying, especially as our hospitals are the most vulnerable,” said Susan Hopkins, England’s leading Public Health Medical Advisor. .
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These latest figures come when the government is under pressure to introduce stricter restrictions, including delaying back to school.
The UK is competing with Italy for the highest number of deaths from the disease in Europe and is now battling a new variant of COVID that scientists say may spread faster.
For his part, the leading epidemiologist advising the British government, Andrew Hayward, warned that Britain is heading for a “catastrophe” in the coming weeks if it does not take tougher action against the most infectious variant of the disease. disease.
More than 24 million people, or 43% in England, already live under strict measures such as staying home, closed bars, restaurants and pubs.