Patrick Vallance says UK will face ‘high death numbers’ for weeks
The reported number of deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test was slightly higher than the 1,248 recorded on Thursday.
In total, there have been 87,295 recorded deaths from COVID-19.
The 55,761 new cases of COVID-19 was significantly up from th 48,682 cases recorded the previous day.
This brings the total number of cases in the UK so far to 3,316,019.
Separate figures from the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, along with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, revealed there have now been more than 100,000 deaths involving COVID-19 in the UK.
Earlier on Friday, NHS England said a further 807 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in the country, increasing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 59,519.
The patients were aged between 32 and 101 years old and all except for 51 of them, aged between 40 and 97, had known underlying health conditions.
Covid cases update (Image: GETTY)
Covid cases are continuing to surge throughout the UK (Image: GETTY)
The deaths occurred between November 18 and January 14.
But offering some hope, the Government data also revealed the number of people the number of people receiving a first vaccine does has passed three million.
The latest statistics showed a further 316,694 people been given a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine as of Thursday, increasing the total to 3,234,946.
A total of 2,769,164 first doses have been administered in England, as well as 224,840 in Scotland, 126,375 in Wales, and 114,567 in Northern Ireland.
More than three million people have received their first Covid vaccine dose (Image: GETTY)
So far, 443,234 second doses of a vaccine have been administered in the UK – 420,510 in England, 19,264 in Northern Ireland, 3,331 in Scotland and 129 in Wales.
In total, the number of vaccine jabs administered in the whole of the UK, including both first and second doses, has increased to 3,678,180.
The coronavirus R number in the UK has also remained largely unchanged since last week and is now estimated to be between 1.2 and 1.3, according to the latest figures released by the Government Office for Science and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage).
Last week the R rate, refers to the number of people that an infected person will pass the virus on to, was estimated to have between 1 and 1.4 in the UK, and between 1.1 and 1.4 in England.
England is current in the midst of its third national lockdown (Image: GETTY)
What is the R-number in my region? (Image: EXPRESS)
But in an encouraging sign, experts advising the government have said areas of England that have been under tougher restrictions for a longer period of time – including east of England, London, and the south east – are now showing “a slight decline in the number of people infected”.
However, they also infections in regions such as the north west and south west are continuing to rise, with the new Covid variant likely playing a large role in that.
These estimates are based on the latest data, available up to January 11.
The Sage scientists said: “The latest figures show that we need to remain vigilant to keep this virus under control, to protect the NHS and save lives.
“We all need to play our part and if everyone continues to follow the rules – we can expect to drive down the R number across the country.”
Separately, researchers from Cambridge University said the R number is now below 1 in the east of England, London, the south east, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Yet in a further warning, the experts believe the R is still above 1 in the south west, north west, north east and the East Midlands, suggesting that cases are still increasing in a number of regions.
— to www.express.co.uk
