LONDON, Oct 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Another 15,166 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 590,844, according to official figures released Saturday.
The COVID-19-related deaths rose by 81 to 42,760, the data showed.
Britain’s virus reproduction number, also known as the R number, is now between 1.2 and 1.5, slightly down from between 1.3 and 1.6 last week, according to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).
The R number, which means the average number of people, each person with COVID-19 goes on to infect, is one of the major indicators scientists use to determine how fast COVID-19 is spreading.
If the R number is above one, it means the number of cases will increase exponentially.
According to the British Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest rates of infection currently are among older teenagers and young adults — from school Year 12 through to age 24.
ONS noted differences between regions, saying North-East, North-West, and Yorkshire, and The Humber were among the worst affected regions in England in recent weeks.
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is under mounting pressure to consider tighter restriction measures, to tackle a sharp rise in cases. New measures are expected to be announced “in the coming days,” which could see pubs and restaurants closed, in the worst-affected areas of England, according to the BBC.
To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia and the United States are racing against time to develop COVID-19 vaccines.– NNN-AGENCIES
