Britain's coronavirus cases rise to record daily level
Britain has reported close to 13,000 new Covid-19 cases, a record daily figure for the country, with the government blaming the jump on a reporting delay and saying the numbers in coming days would include additional cases.
The government's website said a technical issue had delayed publishing a number of new coronavirus cases.
"This means the total reported over the coming days will include some additional cases from the period between 24 September and 1 October, increasing the number of cases reported," it said.
At 12,872, the number of daily cases reported on Saturday almost doubled from the 6,968 reported on Friday, smashing the previous biggest daily toll of 7,143, which was recorded on Tuesday.
Britain is now processing more than 200,000 Covid tests a day compared with fewer than 100,000 at the start of the pandemic.
But the technical issue could be seized on by critics who say the government has lost control of the virus amid a shortage of testing capacity.
The number of deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test fell to 49 on Saturday from 66 the previous day.
On Thursday the health minister extended a 10pm curfew to England’s north.
Matt Hancock said he understood concerns about pubs and restaurants, many of which have been hurt by the introduction of a 10 pm curfew in England, Scotland and Wales to try to reduce the second wave of coronavirus cases.
"Our hospitality industry provides so much colour and life in this country," he said.
"And we will do whatever we can to support them while acting fast to keep this virus under control. I know that these measures are hard, and that they are yet another sacrifice."
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