The number of Covid-19 cases recorded today, 35,928, is the highest figure yet in Britain, and nearly double the number of infections seen last Sunday.
The UK has reported a further 35,928
coronavirus cases today as the mutant
Covid strain causes a 94.8 per cent rise in infections.
Today's spike in positive tests is the biggest daily case total Britain has ever had and is nearly double the 18,447 recorded last Sunday.
Official figures also revealed 326 more people have died after testing positive for the virus - more than double the 144 deaths reported this time last week.
The 126 per cent rise in daily deaths comes after London and vast swathes of the home counties were thrust into a brutal Tier 4 lockdown due to a
Covid variant running rampant in the south.
The strain - called 'VUI – 202012/01' - is 70 per cent more infectious and makes up 60 per cent of London's new cases,
Boris Johnson revealed yesterday.
He also warned that the strain could increase the crucial R rate by 0.4.
Tier 4 regulations involve closing non-essential shops and travel restrictions including 'stay at home' order for Christmas Day itself - even though Mr
Johnson insisted just days ago that five-day festive 'bubbles' would go ahead.