The UK reported 950 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday over the most recent 24-hour period, sending the total surging to 308,134. There were an additional 49 deaths across all settings, with the death toll now standing at 46,413. Britain continues to have the fourth highest death toll from the pandemic in the world, despite its small size compared to other much larger nations.
Mr Johnson and his Government have come under increased pressure over their handling of the crisis.
But the latest data for this week shows the Prime Minister is getting the pandemic under control in England.
In contrasts, the figures suggest Scotland’s First Minister Ms Sturgeon is struggling to contain the spread of the pandemic in her country.
England has reported 3,103 new coronavirus infections and 206 deaths so far this week, compared to 4,887 cases and 433 fatalities reported for the whole of last week.
Coronavirus UK: Infections are falling in England but rising in Scotland (Image: GETTY)
Coronavirus UK: Boris Johnson delayed easing lockdown restrictions for some sectors last week (Image: GETTY)
While new infections from the deadly disease are decreasing in England, they are steadily rising north of the border.
Scotland has so far reported 171 new infections and no new deaths from COVID-19.
This compares to 125 infections throughout all of last week, and again with no deaths.
On Thursday, England reported 826 new infections and 46 deaths from coronavirus, compared to 812 infections and 38 deaths from a week ago.
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Coronavirus UK: Nicola Sturgeon is fighting against a spike in cases in Scotland (Image: GETTY)
But while the number of new cases in England increased slightly, they have quadrupled north of the border from a week ago.
The Scottish Government said on Thursday there were 67 new infections compared to just 17 reported last Thursday.
Earlier this week, numerous reports said Mr Johnson had ordered officials to work-up a plan for avoiding a second national lockdown.
The Prime Minister is reportedly considering asking the elderly to once again shield and is also looking at lockdown-type conditions for London should there be a second wave of coronavirus infections.
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Coronvirus UK: The Government placed Leicester back into lockdown last month (Image: GETTY)
Coronavirus UK: Aberdeen is deserted after being placed back into lockdown (Image: GETTY)
This came just days after Mr Johnson announced last Friday the easing of lockdown measures were being put on hold, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after an increase in coronavirus cases was recorded. This was the first rise in infections since May.
Last month, health authorities placed Leicester back into lockdown following a huge spike in coronavirus cases in the East Midlands city.
The Government has also imposed restrictions in several other parts of England, including Greater Manchester and parts of West Yorkshire in a bid to bring rising COVID-19 rates under control.
In Scotland, Ms Sturgeon has reintroduced lockdown restrictions to Aberdeen after coronavirus cases surged in the city.
Coronavirus UK: There have been more than 308,000 infections throughout the country so far (Image: EXPRESS)
On Thursday, she said the number of cases linked to the outbreak there had risen by 25 in the past day.
The First Minister announced 79 confirmed cases have now been identified and a further 30 are under investigation as being potentially connected to the 32 venues announced by the Scottish Government as possibly linked to the outbreak.
Ms Sturgeon said a total of 233 contacts have been traced, but warned she expects a further rise in infection numbers on Friday.
The SNP leader also warned that some of the lockdown measures could be extended to Aberdeenshire.
Speaking at the daily Government briefing, Ms Sturgeon said: “I do want to warn, and very strongly warn, against any shred of complacency.
“We have undoubtedly seen in recent days an increase in positive cases and that increase might not yet be reflected in the modelling.
“This virus is very much still out there and circulating in Scotland.”
