18,270 positive coronavirus tests were registered on Saturday. This is the highest number since the beginning of February. This continues the increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus infections. The number of deaths from Covid-19 is increasing less rapidly: 23 deaths were recorded on Saturday. By comparison, in February, hundreds of people were killed daily by Covid-19. This difference is probably due to the fact that many British have been (partially) vaccinated. But far more likely is another explanation: death count lags behind the data.

It seemed to be heading in the right direction in the UK for a while, but since the end of May, the number of infections in the state has been increasing again. The increase is due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant (formerly called the Indian variant) of the coronavirus. Due to fears of a new wave of infections and hospital admissions, the planned easing of the coronavirus measures was postponed by a month in mid-June.

Earlier on Saturday, it was also announced that the health minister and the face of the coronavirus campaign Matt Hancock is leaving because he has violated the coronavirus measures. Hancock made out in his office with a colleague, against the measures. The incident is particularly painful because Hancock is married and with the kiss seems to cheat on his husband.