the little town of bethlehem marks christmas eve in a year where tourism has been blighted by covid. and in herfirst christmas broadcast since the death of prince philip, hello and welcome. 1.74 million people in the uk had coronavirus on december 19, according to survey by the office for national statistics that s up by more than 400,000 people on the figure three days earlier. this equates to 1 in 35 people, or 2.7% of the population of the united kingdom. and in london this rises to around 1 in 20 people likely to test positive for covid 19, the highest proportion for any region in england. it comes amid news of a glimmer of christmas hope from the uk health security agency s drjenny harries, who says new cononavirus data suggests that the 0micron variant may be less likely to lead to serious illness than the delta variant. but dr harries cautions that more information is needed, particularly about the impact on elderly and more vulnerable patients. elswhere, thailand
hello, i m olly foster. here s what s coming up on sportsday. another premier league ground will be empty on boxing day. how many more will go over the christmas break? root vows to lead by example as england look to keep themselves in the ashes. it s win or bust in melbourne. he s not any punches. also coming up in the programme we ll hearfrom one of the professional players now out of a job following the collapse of coventry united in the women s championship. we ve committed so much to make this happen, so i think it sjust mind blowing that this has happened, and i d love to know why it happened. welcome along to our christmas eve sportsday. also coming up a few alternative sports from the last year, if you like dogs and lawnmowers, you ll love it. let s start with more pressing matter of the decimated football schedule. another boxing day game is off in the premier league. everton have reported a number of positive covid cases and on top of the injury list they are unab
christmas message this year, her first since the death of her husband prince philip. hello and welcome. the uk has again recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the pandemic began more than 120,000. it s the third day in a row that cases have topped 100,000 with 122,186 recorded today a separate survey from the office of national statistics found that on december 19th, an estimated 1 in 35 people in the uk had coronavirus that s1.74 million people. in london the ratio is much higher one in 20 people were likely to have tested positive for covid, the highest proportion of any region or nation in england. let me show you quickly the stats for the other nations. in wales it s around one in 45 scotland s rate is one in 65 and in northern ireland it s one in a0. but despite soaring cases, early findings suggest that the 0micron variant is milder than delta, and leads to less hospitalisation the head of the uk health security agency drjenny harries ca
and pope francis delivers the traditional christmas eve mass from st peter s basilica. the uk has again recorded its highest number of daily coronavirus cases since the pandemic began more than 120,000. it s the third day in a row that cases have topped 100,000 with 122,186 recorded today. a separate survey from the office for national statistics found that on december 19th, an estimated 1 in 35 people in the uk had coronavirus that s1.74 million people. in london the ratio is much higher one in 20 people were likely to have tested positive for covi. tested positive for covid. let me show you quickly the stats for the other nations. in wales it s around one in a5. scotland s rate is one in 65, and in northern ireland it s one in a0. but despite soaring cases, early findings suggest that the 0micron variant is milder than delta, and leads to less hospitalisation the head of the uk health security agency drjenny harries called it a glimmer of christmas hope . europea