COVID cases in the UK have hit the highest daily total in a MONTH with 39,851 new infections reported.
The last time the infection rate was this high was on September 6 with 41,192 cases.
Another 143 deaths were also reported today.
That brings the total number of cases in the UK since the start of the pandemic to 8,006,660, and the total number of fatalities to 137,295.
It comes after Covid cases and deaths fell again yesterday, with the numbers down on last week’s figures.
Another 166 Covid fatalities were reported on Tuesday, along with 33,869 new infections.
On Monday, coronavirus deaths dropped to the lowest number of fatalities in seven weeks (33).
And the day before that, the figure was down by a quarter on the week before.
Meanwhile, it is reported frontline NHS staff will be told they must have Covid jabs to continue working in their field.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid is said to be ready to quickly implement the rules after a formal consultation ends on October 22.
The i newspaper reports Javid, who this week said unvaccinated care staff should “get out and get another job”, is understood to be similarly determined that frontline NHS workers should be prepared to do the same.
After a change in law this summer, care home staff have until November 11 to get double jabbed and if they do not they are legally barred from work.
The Department for Health and Social Care has similar plans for NHS frontline staff – unless they are medically exempt from having a vaccine.
It is understood that Boris Johnson is fully behind the measures.
Most English NHS staff, 89 per cent, are double jabbed.
But eight per cent have not had one.
