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BREAKING NEWS: Record 381 deaths; 3,000 new COVID-19 cases in UK in 24 hours

A record 381 COVID-19 deaths have been announced in UK on Tuesday (31) in the past 24 hours, taking the total fatalities to 1,789.

A 19-year-old with no underlying health conditions has also died. The total number of positive cases passed 25,000 with 3,000 more positive tests in 24 hours.


The death toll in England from the coronavirus outbreak rose 29% to 1,651 with one person as young as 19 dying without any underlying health conditions, the National Health Service said.

"Patients were aged between 19 and 98 years old and all but 28 patients (aged between 19 and 91 years old) had underlying health conditions," it added.

Scotland said 60 people had died as of Tuesday (31). Wales said 69 people had died. Northern Ireland said its toll was 28.

England is the worst-hit country in the UK, with more than 1,600 deaths and 20,000 positive tests

One of today's victims was just 19 years old and didn't have any other health conditions, making them the UK's youngest otherwise-healthy patient to have died.

NHS officials confirmed that the outbreak has grown so large that hospitals no longer have to wait for families' consent to announce their relatives' deaths, something they still had to do just weeks ago.

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food inflation

Pork fillet costs approximately £20 per kilogram, while beef sells for £80 per kilogram or more

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UK shoppers swap beef for pork as prices soar 27 per cent

Highlights

  • Beef price inflation hits 27 per cent while pork remains fraction of the cost at £20/kg vs £80/kg.
  • Waitrose reports 16 per cent rise in pork mince sales as families adapt recipes.
  • Chicken and pork mince volumes surge 65.6 per cent and 36.6 per cent respectively as cheaper protein alternatives.
British shoppers are increasingly swapping beef for pork in dishes like spaghetti bolognese as beef prices continue their steep climb, new retail data reveals. The latest official figures show beef price inflation running at 27 per cent, prompting consumers to seek more affordable alternatives.
Waitrose's annual food and drink report indicates customers are now buying pork cuts typically associated with beef, including T-bone steaks, rib-eye cuts and short ribs.

The cost difference is substantial. Pork fillet costs approximately £20 per kilogram, while beef sells for £80 per kilogram or more, according to Matthew Penfold, senior buyer at Waitrose. He describes pork as making a "massive comeback but in a premium way".

The supermarket has recorded notable changes in shopping patterns, with recipe searches for "lasagne with pork mince" doubling on its website and "pulled pork nachos" searches rising 45 per cent. Sales of pork mince have increased 16 per cent compared to last year as home cooks modify family favourites.

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