DRAMATIC maps shared today show how Covid cases have doubled in the past two weeks.
The number of cases and deaths from the bug in the UK have soared in the past few weeks as a mutant strain spreads.
Rocketing infection rates are now similar to what they were at the beginning of the pandemic in April.
Maps shared by Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a press conference today show how the virus has spread.
Two heat maps of the UK were shown – one from December 10, and the other from December 24.
Darker areas on the map show where case rates are highest.
Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, spoke about the maps at today’s press conference.
He said: “You can see that average case rate per 100,000 on December 10 is 190 per 100,000, rising to 380 per 100,000 as a UK average by Christmas Eve.
“The darkest areas are hottest areas, and there’s been a considerable growth in that time, particularly centred on London, the South East and Home Counties, and South Wales.”
The press conference comes as three-quarters of England will be plunged into Tier 4 from tonight with most of the country now living in some form of lockdown.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today put a further 20 million people into the toughest Tier 4 and upgraded millions to Tier 3. No areas will remain Tier 2.
Only 2,000 people living on the Isles of Scilly will remain in Tier 1.
In a huge blow to the hospitality industry, it means all pubs – except on Scilly – will be forced to close from tonight.
TIER FOUR
A total of 44 million people will now be in Tier 4, or 78 per cent of the population of England.
The lockdown rules will come in with just a few hours notice, meaning people won’t be able to grab a last-minute New Year’s pint.
All of the North-East of England – including Cumbria, Cheshire, Warrington, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen – will be thrown into Tier 4 from midnight.
Most of the West Midlands and all of the East Midlands, except Rutland will be put into Tier 4.
Areas in the South-East that were not already under Tier 4 restrictions, will also be given the tougher rules.
Mr Hancock said the draconian measures – which will close non-essential shops, all hospitality, and gyms and leisure centres – were “absolutely necessary”.
Cornwall, Bath, North East Somerset, Liverpool and North Yorkshire will all be put under Tier 3.
Mr Hancock told MPs most new cases are from the new variant, which is as much as 56 per cent more contagious.
He said: “Yesterday alone, 52, 135 new cases were registered, the majority of which are believed to be the new variant.
“Unfortunately this new variant is spreading across most of England.”
