UK daily coronavirus death toll hits 1,041; highest since April
What's the story
The UK recorded 1,041 deaths from the coronavirus on Wednesday, the highest since the peak of the pandemic in April last year. Members of Parliament retrospectively voted on a new nationwide lockdown that is already legally enforceable. Official figures also revealed another 62,322 infections, bringing the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK to 2,836,801, largely because of the new strain.
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Lockdown to continue until the end of March
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had recently addressed the House of Commons for a lockdown debate to warn that the country's third national lockdown will be a "gradual unwrapping," which is why the legislation being voted through would run until the end of March. The full national lockdown will continue until March 31 to allow a steady and controlled opening up.
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Gradual opening up to protect the gains
"Our emergence from the lockdown will not be a big bang but a gradual unwrapping. The House will vote on runs until March 31," said Johnson. "It is to not risk the hard-won gains protections have given us," he added.
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Restrictions introduced under the new lockdown
While the restrictions involve a blanket stay-at-home message except for essential reasons, the government will be statutorily required to review the restrictions every two weeks. "After the marathon of last year, we are indeed now in a sprint, a race to vaccinate the vulnerable faster than the virus can reach them. Every needle in every arm makes a difference," said Johnson.
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All exams canceled in view of the pandemic
Meanwhile, UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said that all board-level exams GCSEs, A-level and AS-level would be canceled this year and replaced by teacher-assessed grades. SATs also stand canceled. Every school is expected to provide three to five hours of virtual teaching each day and 750,000 laptops and tablet devices are to be distributed by the end of next week.