UK hits highest spike in daily Covid-19 cases

London : Today's figure show another 41,385 have been tested positive for covid 19 in the past 24 hours, marking the highest since the pandemic hit UK.

Authorities reported a cumulative total of 2,336,688 cases, according to reports.

Another 357 infected patients have died within 28 days of testing positive, bringing the total fatalities to 71,217, the data showed.

Now hospital admissions are nearing the first peak in April as medical experts warn of further worsening of situation through January and February.

The situation is "very tough" and the problem is particularly serious in London but "this could easily spread", Adrian Boyle from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine told Sky News on Monday.

"Ambulances keep coming in. We are desperate to offload ambulances, that's always been a priority for us and you feel terrible and a sense of helplessness when you can't because your emergency department is full," Boyle added.

According to the London Ambulance Service, Boxing Day (December 26) was one of its "busiest ever days", with 7,918 calls, up by more than 2,500 compared with the same day in 2019.

The UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has urged for all regions of England to be placed in the highest Tier Four restrictions. That will require residents in the areas to stay at home, with limited exemptions.

People are also urged to work from home when they can, and should not enter or leave those areas.

London and parts of England have already been placed under Tier Four restrictions.

For those in Tiers One, Two and Three, up to three households were allowed to meet only on Christmas Day, while in Tier Four, people are not allowed to mix with anyone outside their own household, apart from support bubbles.

IANS report with edits