The UK has reported 41,385 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, a new daily record, as a rapidly spreading variant of the coronavirus increases infection rates and the holiday weekend impacted the reporting of some new cases.
There were 357 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test.
The medical director of Public Health England has urged people to co-operate to fight the virus.
Dr Yvonne Doyle said: “This very high level of infection is of growing concern at a time when our hospitals are at their most vulnerable, with new admissions rising in many regions.
“We have all made huge sacrifices this year but we must all continue to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus, which is still replicating fast.”
She said the “basics” of hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing and abiding by the restrictions in place in your area remained essential.
The approval of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca could accelerate the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, cabinet office minister Michael Gove said this morning
Gove said that the independent regulator had to assess the vaccine, but if it was approved there would be a “significant increase” in vaccine available. Britain is already rolling out a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech .
“If we do get the authorization for that vaccine, and the rollout goes according to plan, then we will be able to progressively lift some of the restrictions, which have made life so difficult for so many,” he told Sky News.
Gove has insisted primary pupils and some secondary schools will reopen next but warned that there will be trade offs with potential wider lockdowns.
He said the Government was confident younger pupils and those in Years 11 and 13 in England would be able to return in the first week of January, with the rest going back later in the month.
Meanwhile Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) told the BBC that the vaccine was a game changer and predicted that the country could achieve herd immunity by the summer.
