COVID-19 fatalities in the UK have risen to 39,045 after 111 more deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours
A total of 276,332 people have now tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the United Kingdom; this is a rise of 1,570 cases from yesterday.
The figures from today are a slight decline from last Monday’s 121 fatalities and is the lowest number of deaths recorded on a Monday since lockdown began on the 23rd of March when 74 deaths were recorded.
Today’s rise in cases is the lowest number of new cases since the 25th of March, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this evening.
In England, the total number of COVID-19 deaths rose to 26,722 today, which is an increase of 108 deaths in the nation from yesterday.
NHS England confirmed the patients were aged between 29 and 99 years old and 16 had no known underlying health conditions.
This comes after NHS England have said that 26% of COVID-19 patients who died in England had diabetes.
There were only nine deaths recorded in London and zero in the South West.
A total of 2,363 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase in one death from yesterday.
Five more deaths were recorded overnight in Wales, which brings the overall number of fatalities in the country to 1,347.
One more person has died in Northern Ireland bringing the total in the nation to 524 coronavirus-related deaths.
At today’s daily coronavirus press conference, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that the data shows the UK is winning the battle against the coronavirus, but he warns COVID-19 is “not done yet”.
“We’re getting the virus under control, which is why we can take the cautious steps we are taking today.”
Hancock adds that the UK economy is going to:
“have to change as we come out of this”
The Health Secretary went on to talk about testing for the coronavirus in the nation:
“It’s incredibly important for anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus to get a test. It’s by people coming forward to get the test that we’re able to identify those who have got the virus and trace the virus and control it.”
“128,437 tests were carried out in the UK yesterday, 4.48 million total.”
The health secretary says capacity stands at 206,444 tests.
The return to school is part of the wider easing of lockdown measures that will allow groups of up to six people to meet in public places or private gardens, outdoor markets and car show-rooms will also reopen.
But Government officials have stressed that social distancing restrictions need to stay in place throughout the United Kingdom, particularly the measure that tells the public to stay two metres apart from anyone that you don’t live in the same house as.