Covid cases surge nearly 20% in a week as 36,000 new infections are recorded

Coronavirus cases have shot up by 17% in just a week following a week of steadying infection levels. Today a further 36,100 cases and 49 deaths were suffered in the UK, government data shows. In comparison, last Monday 30,825 new infections and 61 new deaths were clocked. In the past few days the increase of daily cases had been slowing significantly, despite the recent return to school and easing of restrictions. On August 18, a month and two days ago, there were 111 new Covid deaths recorded, making Saturday's rise of 30,144 new Covid cases and more 164 more an increase of 47%.