Number of Covid-19 deaths in UK nearly hits single-day high

London, Jan 12 (efe-epa).- The United Kingdom has registered 1,243 Covid-19 deaths over the most recent 24-hour period, the highest number of fatalities in that country since a record 1,325 coronavirus sufferers passed away on Jan. 8, the Department of Health and Social Care said Tuesday.

According to the latest data, the total number of coronavirus deaths in the UK stands at 83,203, although that figure only takes into account those who died within a 28-day period after being diagnosed with the disease.

The number of deaths in which the illness was included on the person’s death certificate has now risen to 89,243.

The number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus also is spiking, with 45,533 reported over the past 24 hours. More than 3.16 million people in the UK have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, since the start of the pandemic.

At present, 35,075 people are hospitalized with Covid-19 and 3,363 of those patients are on ventilators. Over the past 24 hours, 4,240 new patients have required hospitalization.

Amid a sharp spike in coronavirus cases in the country, Home Secretary Priti Patel warned in a press conference on Tuesday that police will crack down firmly on people who violate the nation’s lockdown measures.

Under the government’s current rules, aimed at easing the burden on medical services, schools are currently closed and people will face fines (of 200 pounds, equivalent to $273, for the first offense) if they leave their homes without a “reasonable excuse.”

The latter includes work purposes where one’s job cannot be conducted from home; “essential activities,” such as buying items of basic necessity at shops; and exercising with member’s of one’s own household.

Since the start of the pandemic, nearly 45,000 fines have been imposed for non-compliance with coronavirus restrictions, Patel said Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, the head of London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Cressida Dick, said violators of Covid-19 restrictions are “increasingly likely” to face fines.

“It is preposterous to me that anyone could be unaware of our duty to do all we can to stop the spread of the virus,” she wrote in The Times. EFE-EPA

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