London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 02, 2025

UK suffers worst day for Covid deaths since April as 744 die with virus

UK suffers worst day for Covid deaths since April as 744 die with virus

Another 744 people have died with Covid-19 in the highest daily toll since the UK’s peak of the virus in April.

The UK also confirmed another daily record of cases with 39,237 people testing positive for the virus over the last 24 hours, according to the latest data by the Department of Health.

This breaks Tuesday’s record number of 36,804 positive tests. Since the start of the pandemic, 2,149,551 have returned positive results.

Today, the UK recorded the highest number of fatalities in a 24-hour period since April 29, bringing the overall death toll to 69,051.

However, the latter figure increases to 79,349 when taking into account all fatalities that had Covid-19 recorded on a death certificate.

The latest data comes after the health secretary announced several more areas in England will be plunged into tier four measures from Boxing Day.


The UK recorded another record of daily cases


He announced that Sussex, Hampshire (except the New Forest), Oxfordshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Waverley in Surrey, and the remaining areas of Essex still in tier three, will be escalated to tier four from midnight on December 26.

Matt Hancock said the mutant strain of Covid-19 was spreading at a ‘dangerous’ rate with those areas seeing a surge in cases and the Government must ‘act now’ to tackle them.

Two cases of another new variant of the virus, which mutated in South Africa, have been detected in the UK. It is said to be even more transmissible than the first mutant strain identified last week.

The health secretary told a Downing Street press conference on Wednesday that the two people who tested positive for the new strain, and their close contacts, are now in quarantine.



Immediate restrictions have been placed on travel from South Africa and anyone in the UK who has been there in the past two weeks – and anyone who has been in close contact with them – must self-isolate immediately.

The measures come as it was revealed this afternoon the R rate is rising across the country and remains above 1.

Concerns have been raised over the fast-spreading mutant variant which is now said to be ‘everywhere’ in the UK, and is 70% more infectious than the original Covid-19.

However, at this stage experts say it does not appear to be any more harmful and the vaccines should still be effective against it – but urgent work is underway to confirm this.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
Trump Administration Considers Withdrawal of Funding for Hospitals Providing Gender Treatment to Minors
Texas Enacts Law Allowing Gold and Silver Transactions
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
OpenAI Secures Multimillion-Dollar AI Contracts with Pentagon, India, and Grab
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Elon Musk Critiques Senate Budget Proposal Over Job Losses and Strategic Risks
Los Angeles Riots ended with Federal Investigations into Funding
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Education Secretary Announces Overhaul of Complaints System Amid Rising Parental Grievances
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Digital Services Tax
UK Government Softens Welfare Reform Plans Amid Labour Party Rebellion
Labour Faces Rebellion Over Disability Benefit Reforms Ahead of Key Vote
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Host Lavish Wedding in Venice Amid Protests
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
North Korea to Open New Beach Resort to Boost Tourism Economy
UK Labour Party Faces Internal Tensions Over Welfare Reforms
Andrew Cuomo Hints at Potential November Comeback Amid Democratic Primary Results
Curtis Sliwa Champions His Vision for New York City Amid Rising Crime Concerns
Federal Reserve Proposes Changes to Capital Rule Affecting Major Banks
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Trump Escalates Criticism of Media Over Iran Strike Coverage
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
Big Four Accounting Firms Fined in Exam Cheating Scandal
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
Australia's Star Casino Secures $195 Million Rescue Package Amid Challenges
UK to Enhance Nuclear Capabilities with Acquisition of F-35A Fighter Jets
Russian Shadow Payments via Cryptocurrency Reach $9 Billion
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
×