Another 424 people have died of coronavirus in the UK while 21,672 more people have been infected.

The figures from the Department of Health mean the overall death toll after testing positive has reached 63,082.

Where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, that figure rises to 73,125.

Figures suggest daily deaths have dropped by 5% from the previous seven days.

However, the number of people being admitted to hospital has risen by almost 6% compared to last week and the number of people who have tested positive has risen by 17%.

Worrying figures today also showed the UK’s R number is on the increase again in the latest sign that the country’s coronavirus outbreak is worsening.

The latest estimate from Sage puts the crucial figure at between 0.9 and 1.0 – higher than last week when it was between 0.8 and 1.0.

It’s the first time in eight weeks that the R – which represents the average number of people each Covid-19 positive person goes on to infect – has ticked upwards.

When the figure is above 1, scientists warn an outbreak can grow exponentially.

Yesterday Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced all secondary school pupils in the worst hit areas will be able to get tested for Covid-19.

That includes London, Kent and some boroughs of Essex.

He said figures showed the virus was growing fastest among 11-18 year olds in London, while the rate among adults is ‘broadly flat’.

He revealed the plan amid fears London could be plunged into tier three before Christmas due to rising coronavirus rates.

The tier system, which replaced the national lockdown on December 2, is up for its first review on December 16.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page

Source: Read Full Article