UK passes grim milestone of 100,000 Covid deaths

The death toll from the coronavirus in the United Kingdom has passed 100,000 people, according to data published Tuesday by the country's Office for National Statistics, which revises upward previous public figures, reports NBC News.

The UK has the highest death toll in Europe, with criticism of the government's handling of the pandemic growing louder.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is quick to point to a new, highly transmissible variant of the virus that appears to have originated in England and has now spread to other countries.

Boris Johnson on Tuesday took "full responsibility" and expressed regret and condolences as the UK deaths from Covid-19 passed the 1,00,000 mark, reports NDTV.

"I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and, of course, as prime minister, I take full responsibility for everything that the government has done," he told a Downing Street news conference.

Experts say that while Johnson may have been dealt a bad hand, he has played it poorly, particularly by allowing tens of millions of people to travel and congregate over the Christmas holiday.