Boris Johnson says that coronavirus is “under control” and ministers are adamant that there is no need to change course despite the highest number of daily deaths since March.
Yesterday 223 deaths and 43,738 new cases were reported, but the prime minister told cabinet that “hospital admissions remain broadly flat”, with numbers still lower than during the summer. The seven-day average for deaths, at 130, is below where it was last month.
There were 828 hospital admissions reported in England yesterday and senior scientific advisers said that it was too soon to panic. Last night emergency coronavirus powers were renewed for another six months without a vote. Johnson told a cabinet meeting that “although we face a difficult winter, we have a plan in place