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New daily COVID cases cross 40K, but should you be worried?

On Wednesday 42,302 confirmed cases of Coronavirus were announced, the highest daily figure since the 15th of January. This adds to the total 5.2 million confirmed cases in the U.K so far, leading to the deaths of more than 128,000 people within 28 days of a positive test.

The sharp rise in cases is believed to be driven by the Delta variant which spreads far quicker than even the previously most common Kent or Alpha variant. However, coronavirus restrictions are still set to end next Monday, but should you be worried about the rise in cases?

Whilst cases are sharply rising, according to government figures, deaths are stagnating. Over the last seven weeks, an average of 99 people have died, with only five people under the age of 30 passing away during that period. In the week beginning 22ND of January, 8,422 people died with 12 of those being under 30.

There are still concerns of a third surge, however, particularly in the North of England with the North West making up around 40% of deaths over the last week and the North East having 8 out of the top ten biggest virus hotspots.

In the last seven weeks, the North West has seen a 500% surge in the number of deaths. The North West as well as Glasgow was where the Delta variant first started surging.

Health leaders in South Tyneside and Sunderland have appealed to the public to follow social distancing guidelines, to continue wearing marks, and to get vaccinated as soon as possible. In Teesside, there has also been a plea to people to continue with face coverings when recommended even after legal restrictions in England are lifted on 19 July.

Despite concerns of a northern surge, plans to reopen the country are still going ahead. Speaking on Monday, Boris Johnson warned the pandemic is not over and that deaths and hospitalisations from coronavirus would continue, but, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said although cases will continue to rise, he did not “believe that infection rates will put unsustainable pressure on the NHS”.

This will be aided by the numbers now fully vaccinated. Eighty-seven percent of all U.K adults have now received at least one dose of the vaccine with two-thirds having had a second.

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