UK reports record COVID cases as Omicron surges in Europe: Live | Coronavirus pandemic News
UK confirms 129,471 new cases of COVID-19, while Portugal also reports record infections despite a high vaccination rate.
Britain reported a record 129,471 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and 18 deaths within 28 days of a positive test, as the Omicron coronavirus variant surges across Europe.
The previous record high of daily infections was 122,186 on December 24.
Portugal on Tuesday also reported record-high daily coronavirus cases despite having one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. Health authorities registered 17,172 new infections in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 16,432 established on January 28.
Meanwhile, Belgian theatres and other cultural venues won an initial legal victory on Tuesday to reopen after the government ordered their closure as part of coronavirus restrictions to curb a surge in cases of the Omicron variant.
Here are the latest updates:
UK reports record high daily COVID-19 cases
The United Kingdom has reported a record 129,471 new cases of COVID-19, a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not bring in new restrictions to limit the spread of the virus this year.
The data did not include figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland due to differences in reporting practices over the Christmas holidays.
The 12,378 cases reported for Wales included data that would normally have been reported in previous days.
The previous record high of daily infections was 122,186 on December 24.
The government said there had been 18 new deaths within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test – well below the recent trend of more than 100 per day.
Belgian court suspends COVID closure of entertainment venues
A Belgian court has suspended the closure of concert halls, cinemas and other entertainment venues, a measure announced last week by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to stem the spread of Omicron.
The authorities have not demonstrated “in what way entertainment venues are particularly dangerous places for [people’s] health … in that they would spread coronavirus, to the extent necessary to order their closure,” said the Council of State, Belgium’s highest administrative court.
Portugal reports record COVID cases
Portugal has reported record-high daily coronavirus cases despite having one of the world’s highest vaccination rates as the Omicron variant surges across Europe.
Health authorities on Tuesday registered 17,172 new infections in the past 24 hours, surpassing the previous record of 16,432 established on January 28 when the Alpha variant, first identified in the UK, swept through the Southern European nation.
Almost 90 percent of Portugal’s population has been vaccinated and nearly 2.4 million people have received a third “booster” jab. The United Arab Emirates is the only country with a higher proportion of vaccinated people.
