UK coronavirus cases rise by 18,950 as country records 136 further deaths

Daniel O'Mahony2 November 2020

The UK has recorded 18,850 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours.

The figure is the lowest daily total of new cases since October 18, when nearly 16,892 infections were reported.

However, there tends to be a drop on Mondays because of a reporting lag over the weekend.  

A further 136 deaths were also reported.

The Prime Minister  warned that “without action” there could be twice as many deaths over the winter as in the first wave, meaning there is “no alternative” but to enforce stricter measures.

He is facing fierce opposition from a number of backbench Tory MPs who claim a second lockdown would be disastrous for the economy and wider public health.

On Wednesday MPs will be given a vote on the measures, which would then come into force from midnight on Thursday.

Responding to Mr Johnson in the Commons, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party will support the measures. 

But he accused the Prime Minister of a “catastrophic failure of leadership” for having rejected a recommendation from scientists advising the Government to impose a shorter “circuit-breaker” lockdown in September. 

Sir Keir also warned that the “human cost” of a growing daily death rate was a result of Mr Johnson being “behind the curve” at every stage.

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