A record number of people have tested positive for COVID-19 in England as millions spend Christmas Day away from friends and family due to a continuing spike in coronavirus infections on Friday. Figures from the National Health Service’s (NHS) Test and Trace network show that between December 10 and 16, 173,875 people received a positive result – the highest weekly total of positive cases and a 58% increase on the previous week. Separately, according to the the Office for National Statistics (ONS), positive cases of coronavirus are increasing sharply in parts of the UK, with around one in 60 people now testing positive in Wales and one in 85 in England. Experts believe the new mutations of the deadly virus are driving cases up across the country as they are more contagious. Queen Elizabeth II, the 94-year-old British monarch, is among the many millions spending Christmas Day apart from the rest of her family except 99-year-old husband Prince Philip.

Source: Mint December 25, 2020 13:18 UTC