Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 151 with 19,790 new cases

Weekly death toll up by 52 per cent on previous seven-day period

The UK has reported another 151 deaths and 19,790 new cases of Covid-19, according to the latest official figures.

A total of 1,250 deaths have been recorded over the last seven days, up by more than 52 per cent on the previous seven day period.

It brings the total number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test to 44,896 and the total number of confirmed cases to 873,800.

Both cases and deaths have been rising since September amid claims the government has “lost control” of the second wave of coronavirus.

While the daily figures issued at 4pm on Sunday are slightly down from the record highs earlier this week, this is most likely due to a regular dip in the statistics at weekends.

However experts have urged caution on comparing current data to the nation’s first outbreak in March, when testing capacity was much lower.

There are around 7,850 patients in hospital with Covid-19 and 743 patients on ventilators, according to the latest statistics on the government’s Covid data dashboard.

Doctors in England have said the NHS will “struggle to cope” over winter when facing the combined pressures of the second wave and the growing backlog of patients requiring other treatments.

It came as a government minister said it was “too early to tell” if families can gather in large groups over Christmas.

While the prime minister has repeatedly declared his hope for a return to normal by Christmas, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said a decision could not yet be made.

Meanwhile, the Welsh government announced a review of the ban on supermarkets selling non-essential items during the firebreak lockdown following complaints from shoppers unable to buy children’s clothes, kettles and stationery.