UK coronavirus death toll rises to 41,423 after another 18 people die
Another 18 people with coronavirus have died in the UK, bringing the total number of deaths to 41,423.
The Government has also announced there have been 1,288 new cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 324,601.
This is the joint highest daily death total in August and the most number of new cases since August 14.
The figures cover deaths in all settings, including care homes and the wider community.
Separately, a further seven patients have died with coronavirus in hospital across the UK in the last 24 hours.
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NHS England announced the deaths of six patients in its hospitals. All who died were aged between 79 and 93 and had known underlying health conditions. There was one death in the east of England, two in the north east and Yorkshire, two in the south east, and one death in the north west.
Public Health Wales said there has been one death and a total of 34 new cases cases in the country bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,707.
There have been 123 new cases in Scotland – the highest number in almost three months – with the majority occurring in a food processing plant in Tayside.
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: ‘123 new positive Covid cases today is of course of concern. However, it also needs some context – 78 of them are in Tayside where we’re dealing with the outbreak at the 2 Sisters food processing plant. Important that all workers and household contacts follow advice to isolate.’
The food plant is currently closed, with anyone living in a household with a factory worker having been told to isolate at home until Monday August 31.
It comes as the UK has again been warned a second national lockdown could be put in place after the R rate crept over one for the first time since restrictions were lifted.
A senior Government source told the Telegraph the UK may need to reimpose some restrictions including shutting some businesses again.
Boris Johnson has previously warned a second national lockdown would only be used as a ‘nuclear deterrent’ – an option of last resort.
But new cases in the UK are double what they were at the beginning of June and doctors want to avoid the type of situation seen in Spain, which now has the fastest growing infection rate in Europe.
Meanwhile, British holidaymakers have endured long drives and forked out thousands of pounds in a last-ditch bid to get home from Croatia before new travel quarantine rules came into force.
Travellers had until 4am Saturday morning to get back to the UK or they will have to self-isolate for 14 days.
At London Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 on Friday evening, British Airways flights arriving from Dubrovnik and Zagreb were among the last to land before the quarantine deadline.
Late arrivals complained about the short notice given by the Government who announced a change in the rules on Thursday.
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