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Covid deaths jump to 203 as UK records 31,564 new infections

A woman walks past the Covid memorial wall in Westminster, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Wire)
A woman walks past the Covid memorial wall in Westminster, London (Dominic Lipinski/PA) (PA Wire)

The UK has recorded 203 more deaths within 28 days of a positive Covid-19 test in the past 24 hours, taking the official death toll to 135,445.

This represents a steady jump from the 49 deaths reported on Monday.

There were 31,564 new people who confirmed a positive test result.

Over the last week, there have been 1,009 Covid-related deaths an increase of 4.8 per cent over the previous week.

The latest stats revealed there are currently 982 coronavirus patients in hospital beds with a mechanical ventilator.

The figures come as the Prime Minister insisted “Christmas is on” amid concerns about the spike in Covid cases, rocketing energy prices, welfare cuts and disruption to supplies of food and toys could spoil the celebrations for a second year in succession.

Mr Johnson fuelled concerns about the festive season earlier this week when he said that it was not his plan to cancel Christmas but on Tuesday he was confident the festivities would go ahead.

He was given a grilling on Sky News about the possibility of festivities being wrecked by the rising cost of living, job insecurities and food shortages. He said: “I really don’t think that is justified... Christmas is on.”

When he was challenged in an ITN interview over whether he accepted people will struggle this winter, the Prime Minister replied: “No, because I think this is a short-term problem caused by the energy problems.

“The spikes in gas prices, like many of the other supply issues we are seeing including food, are caused by the world economy waking up after a long time in this suspended animation caused by Covid.

“We will do whatever we can to address the supply issues but this is a short-term problem.”

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