COVID-19: UK records 1,041 deaths in 24 hours –- highest single day toll since April

The United Kingdom, on Wednesday, recorded 1,041 death toll from COVID-19 — the highest daily fatality figure since April.

This is the highest daily death toll since April 21 when there were 1,166 deaths from COVID-19 complications.

The UK, which is the worst in Europe, had 2,836,801 cases with 77,346 fatalities, as of Wednesday.

According to BBC, Matt Hancock, UK health secretary, said doctors could be forced to ration treatment without a new lockdown.

Hancock was quoted to have said there were now 30,074 COVID-19 patients in UK hospitals.

He reportedly told MPs the consequences of inaction could be similar to scenes elsewhere in the world – where hospitals are overrun and doctors choosing “who to treat and who to turn away”.

“If we don’t act now, we know that eventually, the NHS would not be able to cope,” Hancock reportedly said.

“We know that while the winter weeks will be difficult, we now know what the way out looks like,” he said while referencing the accelerated roll-out of vaccines.

On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new lockdown in England.

Johnson said the new lockdown will remain till mid-February and is expected to contain the spread of the new virus variant.

The development came after the UK recorded more than 50,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the seventh day in a row.

Many countries are battling with the second wave of the COVID-19 infections.