Coronavirus: UK cases hit near two-month high amid fears of third wave

Friday’s 4,182 confirmed cases was the highest daily figure since April 1 and infections have increased 24 per cent week on week

The rise prompted scientists to say Britain is now in the midst of a coronavirus third wave – though case numbers are still low compared to mid-January peak

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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson interacts with a patient at a hospital in Colchester on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:42am, 29 May 2021Updated: 9:52am, 29 May 2021

The number of new coronavirus infections in Britain hit a near two-month high on Friday as the country’s regulators authorised the use of the single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson.

The latest authorisation, which takes the number of vaccines in the UK’s armoury to four, comes amid growing speculation that the new variant of the virus first identified in India may prompt the British government to delay its next planned easing of lockdown restrictions in England.

Government figures showed that another 4,182 new confirmed cases were reported across Britain, the highest daily figure since April 1. The cases bring the total number of confirmed infections reported over the past seven days to 20,765, a 24 per cent increase from the previous week. The rise prompted scientists to say the UK is now in the midst of a coronavirus third wave.

A woman writes a message on a heart painted on the National Covid Memorial Wall in London on Friday. Britain has Europe’s highest virus-related death toll at more than 127,500. Photo: AFP

The number of cases remains well below the daily high of nearly 70,000 recorded in mid-January, during the peak of the second wave, but the upwards trend has raised questions about the British government’s plan to lift all remaining social restrictions on June 21. The government, which has lifted restrictions in stages and allowed pubs and restaurants to resume indoor service last week, has said it will make a decision on the next planned easing on June 14.

The variant identified in India is believed to be responsible for up to 75 per cent of new cases in the UK and is more transmissible than the previously dominant strain of the virus.

Critics argue that the ruling Conservative government is to blame for the variant’s seeding in Britain. They say officials acted too slowly to impose the strictest quarantine requirements on everyone arriving from India, which is in the midst of a catastrophic resurgence of the virus.