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UK now has more new daily COVID cases than the entire EU combined

The UK has more daily cases than the whole of the EU combined. (Our World In Data/PA)
The UK has more daily cases than the whole of the EU combined. (Our World In Data/PA)

The UK has more new daily coronavirus cases than the whole of the European Union combined, figures show.

There are almost 7,000 more daily cases of COVID-19 in the UK than across the 27 EU member states, according to the University of Oxford’s research platform, Our World In Data.

The UK has a population of around 68 million compared to the EU's 445 million.

Its figures for 30 June show that the UK had 25,670 new cases, compared to about 18,700 across all of the EU.

The closest country to the UK in terms of daily cases was Spain, with 9,227, followed by Portugal on 2,362 and France on 1,380.

New UK daily cases are  currently outstripping the combined total of the entire EU (OWID)
New UK daily cases are currently outstripping the combined total of the entire EU (OWID)

Dr Zubaida Haque, a member of Independent Sage, tweeted: “We are dismayed that we now have more daily cases than the whole of EU combined, yet Boris Johnson and new health secretary Sajid Javid are not doing anything to protect the majority of the population who are still unvaxxed, including children in schools.

“If anything, all the indications are that Johnson's government are going to remove all COVID safeguards, including face masks and social distancing post-19 July despite rocketing cases.”

According to the latest coronavirus infection survey, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Friday, one in 260 people in England had COVID-19 in the week to 26 June, up from one in 440 the previous seven-day period.

This is the highest level since the week to 27 February.

The percentage of people testing positive in England increased in all age groups, apart from those aged 70 and over, in the week ending 26 June.

The ‘school year 12 to age 24’ category has the highest percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus, at 1.4%.

Despite the rise in cases, the UK government has pressed ahead with plans to allow around 60,000 fans at the Euro 2020 final despite concerns being raised by EU politicians.

On Friday during a press conference with Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel had "grave concerns" over the number of fans allowed to attend the semi-finals and the finals of Euro 2020 at Wembley Stadium.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, during a press conference after their meeting at Chequers, the country house of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in Buckinghamshire. Picture date: Friday July 2, 2021.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel during a press conference on Friday. (PA)

Merkel had previously urged EU leaders to impose quarantine restrictions on the UK regardless of their vaccination status because of concerns over the Delta variant but suggested on Friday work was being done on allowed double jabbed Brits to enter Germany.

On Thursday, Johnson warned that “extra precautions” may need to be in place should England exit its lockdown on the planned date of 19 July.

"I know how impatient people are to get back to total normality, as indeed am I," he said.

"But there may be some things we have to do, extra precautions that we have to take, but I'll be setting them out."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits the Envision AESC Holding Ltd battery manufacturing facility inside the Nissan plant in Sunderland following the announcement by the car company that it is to create thousands of jobs making batteries for electric vehicles at a new 'gigafactory'. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.
Prime minister Boris Johnson says 'extra precautions' may be needed after 19 July. (PA)
People queuing for the first dose of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine being offered to adults over the age of 18 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the capital aims for 100,000 doses to be administered on Sunder Sunday. (Photo by Steve Taylor / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
People in London queuing for the COVID-19 vaccine at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. (PA)

He urged parents, pupils and Tory MPs to be “patient” over calls to end isolation for entire school “bubbles” when the lockdown is lifted later this month.

Former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith is among 48 MPs to have signed a letter to the prime minister warning that the current policy is “disproportionate” and “unsustainable”.

The call came after official data showed that 279,000 children in England are isolating because of possible contact with a COVID-19 case.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has suggested that school bubbles will end when classes return after the summer holidays in September.

According to the latest government figures, 27,989 coronavirus cases were reported on Thursday, with 22 deaths were recorded within 28 days of a positive test.

Watch: Boris Johnson says 'extra precautions' may be needed after 19 July