59 positive tests in county as UK total nears record high

ANOTHER 59 new positive cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Derbyshire in the past 24 hours, according to Government figures.

This on the day the UK reported 6,178 new coronavirus cases – the highest daily total in four months.

No new deaths have been recorded in NHS trusts operating in the county. A further 20 cases were recorded in Derby, making a total of 1,629 positive tests since the start of the pandemic.

The wider county has now recorded 4,255, up from 4,196 on Tuesday.

Public Health England (PHE) announced a further 6,178 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK – the highest daily total since May 1.

A further 37 people have now died within 28 days of testing positive, taking the UK total to 41,862.

In Staffordshire, there have now been a total of 4,837 confirmed cases, a rise of 46 new cases over the last day.

Meanwhile, Downing Street has dismissed Dominic Raab’s suggestion yesterday morning that customers at fast-food chains such as McDonald’s will need to be served at their tables.

The Foreign Secretary, pictured, said it was his understanding “you need to be able to order from the tables” but later in the day No.10 said the rule only applies to premises selling alcohol. Pressed if a burger could be ordered at the counter and picked up before sitting down to eat, the spokesman said: “Correct.”

More cases are being detected now than at the start of the UK outbreak due to increased testing, but the daily figure will underline the urgency of action to stem a second wave.

The UK’s positivity rate – the ratio of positive tests to number of tests overall – is now at 2.51%, compared with below 1% for most of July and early August.