UK coronavirus deaths rise by 213 as cases continue to soar

UK Covid-19 death toll reaches 52,147, as cases near 1.4 million

(PA)

The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 213 across a 24-hour period, as cases continue to soar.

The figure accounts for the number of people who died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Monday and brings the UK total to 52,147 deaths.

Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 67,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

The government said that, as of 9am on Monday, there had been a further 21,363 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,390,681.

Health secretary Matt Hancock on Monday told a Downing Street press briefing the average number of new daily Covid-19 cases in the UK is now 25,329, up from 22,443 last week.  

There were also 14,915 Covid patients in hospital across the UK as of Monday, compared to 13,025 a week ago. 

Mr Hancock announced the UK will have access to five million doses of the Moderna vaccine if it is approved.

The firm has claimed a 94.5 per cent effectiveness against the illness for the vaccine, although it is not expected to be available in the UK before spring 2021. 

The health secretary said there was a “candle of hope” as he spoke of “great advances in medical science coming to the rescue”.  

He told the Number 10 briefing: "Across diagnostics and vaccines, great advances in medical science are coming to the rescue.  

"While there is much uncertainty, we can see the candle of hope and we must do all that we can to nurture its flame.  

"But we're not there yet. Until the science can make us safe, we must remain vigilant and keep following the rules that we know can keep this virus under control." 

Additional reporting by PA