The UK records 210 more deaths from COVID-19, cases rise to 34,693

People walk through Oxford Circus while stores remain closed under Level 4 restrictions amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in London, UK, December 26, 2020. REUTERS / Henry Nicholls

LONDON (Reuters) – The UK recorded 210 deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday, up from 570 the previous day, while cases rose from 1,968 to 34,693, the government said, citing partial data.

The latest R number is estimated at 1.1 to 1.3, the government said.

The UK recorded a death toll of 70,405, defined as those who die within 28 days after a positive test. To that extent, it has the sixth largest toll in the world, behind only the United States, Brazil, India, Mexico and India.

A broader measure of people dying with COVID-19 on their death certificates puts the UK death toll at 79,349.

Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; edition by John Stonestreet

.Source