With a total reported number of 288 new COVID-19 deaths in the UK, we see the lowest daily rise in deaths since the end of March
There has been a total of 288 more deaths due to COVID-19 in the UK over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country to 28,734.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said that its the lowest daily increase since the end of March.
But he pointed out that “reported figures tend to be lower over the weekend, so we do expect that number to rise”.
The latest figures that come from the Department of Health is for COVID-19-related deaths that have occurred as of 5pm on Sunday, in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.
Figures of deaths collected from the weekend have shown to be lower than those fatalities recorder later in the week, due to fewer administration staff working on the weekend.
Another 204 people have died in hospital in England, which takes the total number of casualties in the country to 21,384.
Five more people have died from the coronavirus in Scotland, bringing the total number of fatalities in the nation to 1,576.
In Wales, 14 more people have died as a result of COVID-19, taking the overall number of deaths to 997.
Another six people have died from the coronavirus in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number to 387.
Within the 24 hours between 9am on Sunday, to 9am on Monday, there were 85,186 tests for COVID-19 conducted across the UK. The government had previously vowed to carry out 100,000 daily tests,planning to hit the target late last week, but they missed it by a small amount.,
Matt Hancock says the UK’s daily testing capacity is now at 108,000, and the total number of tests conducted in the UK has been 1,291,591.
This news comes after a new NHS smartphone app for coronavirus tracking was announced to be tested on the Isle of Wight.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the UK is now in a position to carry out a “test, track and trace” programme to identify and track those with symptoms, adding that a trial of the scheme will start on the Isle of Wight on Tuesday.
An NHS app used in the scheme is already being trialled on the island.
Hancock says all residents will be asked to download it.
“Where the Isle of Wight goes, Britain will follow.”
“This trial does not mean the end of social distancing on the Isle of Wight, or anywhere else for that matter,” Matt Hancock says.
He ends by saying the message to those living on the Isle of Wight is: “Stay at home, install the app, protect the NHS and save lives.”
