Today’s data indicate 53,135 new coronavirus cases (the highest one day figure for new infections, whether reporting by specimen date or date recorded) and a further 414 deaths, Dr Joe Pajak writes.


First published in December 2020.


Today’s data indicate the sad and dreadful fact that a further 414 people have lost their lives in the last 24 hours in the UK, Β  while the number of deaths in the last 7 days was 3,260.

Note: The data for deaths attributed to Covid-19 - each following a reported positive test result for Covid-19 within 28 days of their death.

The data also indicate that there have been 494,750 new cases reported in the past 14 days, that is about double the 14-day figures reported two weeks ago on 15 December. Β 

Today’s 14-day trendline chart is provided below:

UK Covid-19 headline data, reported on 28 December 2020:

  • 53,135 further positive tests – the HIGHEST UK number reported at any time during the pandemic, whichever government data report is used!
  • 414 further deaths in the last 24 hours
  • 2,322 new hospital admissions (reported as of 21/12)
  • 21,286 hospital in-patients in total (reported as of 22/12)
  • 1,529 patients on ventilation beds (reported as of 22/12)

The time lag in the healthcare data is a particular concern and the data are highly likely to be significantly greater than the figures here which are 7 days out of date.

334 days after the first case was reported in the UK, 2,382,865 cases have been reported, together with 71,567 deaths. Β 

However, these data only include those who have died within 28 days of testing positive; other measures suggest the number of deaths is higher: 79,349 being reported as β€œthe total number of deaths of people whose death certificate mentioned Covid-19 as one of the causes, registered up to Friday, 11 December 2020.β€πŸ”·


Data source:



Dr Joe Pajak, Professional experience applied scientific research and development, then director of a national children’s charity, trustee of a disability charity, and governor of NHS foundation trust hospitals.





[This piece was first published in PMP Magazine on 29 December 2020. | The author writes in a personal capacity.]