Covid- 19 infection rate across UK doubles in one week

THE RATE of Covid- 19 infections across the UK has almost doubled in a week.

The UK- wide seven- day rate currently stands at 125.7 cases per 100,000 people, up from 63.8 per 100,000 a week ago, analysis by the PA news agency shows.

When it comes to daily figures, as of 9am on Tuesday, there were 14,542 lab- confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

These have trebled in a fortnight – on September 22, there were 4,926 cases recorded.

The Government said a further 76 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid- 19 as of yesterday. More than 58,000 deaths involving Covid- 19 have now been registered in the UK.

It comes amid rising cases across parts of England, with the latest weekly infection figures showing that Manchester’s rate has soared, with 3,105 new cases recorded in the seven days to October 3 – the equivalent of 561.6 cases per 100,000 people. Other areas with high rates are Knowsley and Liverpool, while Newcastle upon Tyne, Sheffield and Leeds have recorded large jumps in their infection rate over the last seven days. Health officials are also expecting Nottingham to be placed in lockdown.

Four people have died at Yorkshire hospitals after testing positive for Covid- 19, according to the latest statistics.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust each recorded one death. The total numbers of deaths at Yorkshire hospitals since the start of the pandemic stands at 2,991.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested he could soon unveil a three- tier lockdown system to replace current restrictions, which critics say lead to confusion.