Department of Health data shows Covid infections are growing rapidly in London, the South East and East
But the presence of a new strain of Covid-19 could extend Tier 4 out to the South West, Midlands and North
Birmingham was spared from Tier 4 lockdown today - but new rules could be announced as soon as today
No10 s scientific advisers blame spread on a mutated form thought to be up to 70 per cent more infectious
Deaths have also started to soar in line with the spike in cases across the three badly-hit regions, data shows
Home Secretary Priti Patel refused to rule out national lockdown, commenting: Our objective is to save lives
Second mutant strain of coronavirus has already been found in the North AND London after being brought from South Africa - as infections soar again to new record of 39,237 with 744 more deaths and millions MORE are plunged into Tier 4 from Boxing Day
Two cases of the South African variant of the virus called 501.V2 have been detected so far in the UK
Second mutated strain to be found in as many weeks and this version is even more transmissible than first
Matt Hancock said discovery was highly concerning and slapped immediate travel bans on South Africa
Unrelated cases found in London and the North West suggest the virus is likely all over England already
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Britain s second wave of coronavirus is continuing to spiral as health chiefs today recorded another 36,804 cases amid the ever-growing threat of another brutal lockdown in the New Year.
Department of Health data shows daily Covid infections have doubled week-on-week because of rapidly growing clusters across London, the South East and East. No10 s top scientific advisers blame the spread on a mutated form thought to be up to 70 per cent more infectious.
Deaths have also started to soar in line with the spike in cases in the three badly-hit regions, which were forced into draconian Tier Four restrictions in a last-ditch attempt to strangle their outbreaks. Officials recorded another 691 victims today, the highest daily toll since November 25 and up on the 506 recorded last Tuesday.
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The UK is being punished for a mutant strain of coronavirus, which scientists say could have emerged elsewhere and was only spotted thanks to Britain s world-leading genetic sequencing capabilities.
Britain sounded the alarm about VUI-202012/01 over the weekend after an explosion of cases in the South East of England and London were linked to the strain, which was first detected in a patient in Kent in September.
The UK was then made an international pariah as countries shut their borders to UK travellers in a bid to contain the spread of the variant, thought to be 70 per cent more infectious than regular Covid.
Hancock to announce new lockdown in 3pm press conference: Tier 4 is set to spread north with Suffolk, Cheshire and West Sussex getting tough new rules from Boxing Day as ministers stop short of blanket restrictions in battle against Covid super-strain
Department of Health data shows Covid infections are growing rapidly in London, the South East and East
But the presence of a new strain of Covid-19 could extend Tier 4 out to the South West, Midlands and North
Birmingham was spared from Tier 4 lockdown today - but new rules could be announced as soon as today
No10 s scientific advisers blame spread on a mutated form thought to be up to 70 per cent more infectious