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Covid UK: Deaths up by 189 in 24 hours as cases rise by 21,000

 (Independent)
(Independent)

The UK has recorded more than 21,000 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, government figures show.

Some 189 people also died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, according to data published by Public Health England.

It follows a grim record of more than 26,000 people testing positive on Wednesday.

However, England’s chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance warned a Downing Street briefing that up to 90,000 people could currently be contracting the virus each day.

Speaking alongside Boris Johnson, as he defended the government’s regional approach to tackling the virus, Sir Patrick said: “The measures are having an effect, but we do need to do more if the aim is to get R below one and shrink the epidemic.”

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