In the streets of London, December 19, 2020. -

TOLGA AKMEN / AFP

In England, one in eight people had contracted the coronavirus in December, in particular because of the new variant, a clear increase compared to November (1 in 11), revealed a study, published on Tuesday.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the ONS, the figures were one in 10 people in Wales, one in 13 in Northern Ireland and one in 11 in Scotland around the same time.

The latter is based on antibody tests carried out randomly in the population and therefore also make it possible to identify asymptomatic people, and not only those who test positive.

A new, more contagious strain

A third wave of the virus, the deadliest, is currently sweeping the United Kingdom.

The country deplores nearly 90,000 deaths of people who tested positive for the virus, the worst toll in Europe.

The strong spread of the virus is attributed to a new strain considered highly contagious, which has emerged in the UK.

In England and Wales, overall mortality for the first week of January was 45.8% higher than the average for the past five years, according to the ONS, which however warned that the data could be skewed by delays registration of deaths during the Christmas holidays.

London, particularly affected by the latest wave, has seen an increase of nearly 85% in deaths compared to the average recorded the same week for the past five years.

Health

Coronavirus: Faced with the British variant, wearing some homemade masks not recommended

Health

Coronavirus: Is the English variant more dangerous for children?

  • Video

  • England

  • World

  • epidemic

  • Coronavirus

  • Covid 19

  • United Kingdom