UK in ‘eye of the storm' amid surging new coronavirus cases

Concerns are mounting about the ability of the already-stretched NHS to cope with the anticipated increase in people seeking treatment for COVID-19 infections; Italy COVID-19 death toll now highest in Europe

LONDON

British hospitals around the country face a perilous situation in January, medical workers warned on Friday amid surging coronavirus infections blamed on a new virus variant. Authorities pressed to reactivate field hospitals previously mothballed just to handle the crush of new patients.

Concerns are mounting about the ability of the already-stretched National Health Service to cope with the anticipated increase in people seeking treatment for COVID-19 infections over the coming weeks that could be further fueled by holiday gatherings over Christmas and New Year’s.

On Friday, the UK recorded another 53,285 new infections, down slightly from the previous day’s record high of 55,892. Although comparisons with the outset of the pandemic are difficult given that testing was limited in the spring, the UK has recorded its four highest daily new infection numbers over the past four days - all above 50,000 and around double the daily number of a few weeks ago.