UK Covid live news: more than 800,000 people had coronavirus last week, ONS estimates – as it happened

Cases increased in all four nations, says Office for National StatisticsONS estimates more than 800,000 people in UK had Covid last weekONS estimates for rates of Covid in England, by region and age groupBMA calls for ‘urgent rethink’ of government’s Covid strategyEustice: 10,000 food industry staff benefit from isolation rule change‘Pingdemic’ effect: how different sectors in England have been hitPfizer vaccine second dose has ‘sweet spot’ after eight weeks – scientists5.19pmBSTRelated:Coronavirus live: Indonesia reports record daily deaths; Philippines bans children from going out4.14pmBSTThe UK has recorded 36,389 new coronavirus cases and 64 further deaths, according tothe latest updateto the government ’s coronavirus dashboard.The total number of new cases over the past seven days is still up on the total for the previous week, by 11.4%. But yesterdaythe equivalent figure was +24.2%, and the previous day it was +35.8%, so the rate of increase does appear to be slowing. Some of this might be related to a slight drop in the number of tests being carried out.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - July 23, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Andrew Sparrow Tags: Coronavirus Politics UK news Boris Johnson House of Commons NHS George Eustice Vaccines and immunisation Food security Police & drink industry Business Office for National Statistics Health Science Infectious diseases Sco Source Type: news