Coronavirus deaths in UK rise by 621 in a day to 4,934 - including 29 patients with no underlying health conditions: Infections leap by 5,903 to 47,806 – the largest daily rise yet at 59 per cent – despite hopes that cases had begun to plateau
- Matt Hancock backtracked on threat to ban outdoor exercise if people do not comply with the lockdown
- Public Health England reported an extra 555 deaths in England, 12 in Wales and 7 in Northern Ireland
- Level of infections has risen sharply by almost 60 per cent, from 5,903 to 47,806 - the largest daily increase
- The Department of Health also said that, as of 9am on Sunday, a total of 195,524 people have been tested
Britain's coronavirus death toll has gone up by 621 to 4,934 - including 29 patients who did not have any underlying health conditions.
The patients were between 33 years and 103 years old, with 29 of them, aged between 35 and 95 years old, having no known underlying health conditions.
The level of infections has risen sharply by almost 60 per cent, from 5,903 to 47,806, dashing hopes the rate of people getting the disease was starting to level out.
Just days ago, Stephen Powis, the medical director of England, said there had been a 'bit of a plateau' in the number of people testing positive.
The Department of Health also said that, as of 9am on Sunday, a total of 195,524 people have been tested, up from 183,190 the previous day - pushing the amount of tests done daily to more than 12,000.
It comes amid concerns a huge backlog of potential patients awaiting their results could mean infections are far higher than is being reported.
If the backlog for processing the tests is too great, the rate of infections will remain at roughly the same level, with the services already pushed to the brink and only able to carry out a certain number of tests per day.
Matthew Lesh, head of research at the Adam Smith Institute, told MailOnline: 'The UK numbers are masked by the inability of the laboratories.'
NHS England gave the breakdown by region of the 555 deaths of patients in England: - East of England 40 - London 174 - Midlands 74 - North East & Yorkshire 103 - North West 47 - South East 81 - South West 36.
Public Health England reported an extra 555 deaths in England, Public Health Wales recorded 12, and there have been 7 in Northern Ireland.
In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said authorities there had recorded an additional two extra deaths in Scotland, up to 220, but said the number was based on a new way of counting deaths and is 'likely to be artificially low'.
It came as Matt Hancock this afternoon backtracked on a threat to ban outdoor exercise if people do not comply with the coronavirus lockdown.
The Health Secretary this morning blasted sunbathers for flouting the rules and warned the government would ban 'all forms' of public exercise if a 'small minority' refuse to stay at home.
However he later updated his comments while speaking at the daily Downing Street coronavirus press conference and said he did not want anyone to believe that a further crackdown was in the works.
Mr Hancock said the end of lockdown will be determined by 'how much people follow the rules on social distancing' and 'the more people follow the rules then the faster we will all be through it'.
He then issued a direct plea to people who are 'breaking the rules or are pushing the boundaries', telling them: 'You are risking your own life and the lives of others and you are making it harder for us all.'
He concluded: ‘We have included exercise as one of the things that you can leave your house to do because exercise is good for our physical and our mental health but please do not bend or break this rule.
‘We can’t rule out further steps but I don’t want anyone to think that any changes to the social distancing rules are imminent because the vast majority are following the rules.’
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson repeated the importance of staying at home this morning as he tweeted he knows it is 'tough' but it will mean 'saving lives'.
Mr Hancock and Mr Johnson's comments came after a south London park was shut indefinitely yesterday after 3,000 people visited 'despite clear advice' not to as green spaces and beaches across the UK filled up.
Mr Hancock previously told Sky News: 'It is quite unbelievable frankly to see that there are some people who are not following the advice.'
He added: 'Of course I understand how difficult this is but the problem is that when you go out it is not only that you might directly interact with somebody closer than two metres, it is also that you can spread the virus through touching something which somebody else then touches. You could pick it up that way.
'We are crystal clear in the guidance on what people should and shouldn't do. That guidance is backed up in law. It is not a request, it is a requirement in law and people need to follow it.'
Mr Hancock admitted this morning that hitting his promise of 100,000 coronavirus tests by the end of April will be 'hard' and that people involved in the efforts will have to 'put their shoulders to the wheel' to hit the target.
He also insisted Mr Johnson is 'okay' despite still being in coronavirus self-isolation, with the Health Secretary saying the PM 'has very much got his hand on the tiller' of the crisis.
Mr Hancock's comments came as:
- Health experts said the UK is now seven to 10 days away from the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.
- Sadiq Khan hit out at commuters for failing to stay at home following the deaths of five London bus workers who tested positive for coronavirus.
- Carrie Symonds, Mr Johnson's pregnant fiancee, said she had spent the last week in bed suffering coronavirus symptoms, but is 'on the mend'.
- Health chiefs fear more than 50 doctors could die 'if the PPE dries up and we have no choice but to treat our patients without the right equipment'.
- The Ministry of Justice said hundreds of risk-assessed prisoners within two months of their release date are to be temporarily released.
- The UK death toll from the virus rose by 708 - bringing the number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths to 4,313 as of 5pm on Friday
- Matt Hancock today backtracked on a threat to ban all public exercise after people continued to break the coronavirus lockdown rules
In other developments Sadiq Khan has hit out at commuters who are refusing to stay at home following the deaths of five London bus workers who tested positive for Covid-19.
The mayor of the capital said he was 'absolutely devastated' following the coronavirus deaths.
He tweeted a statement saying that 'lives depend' on people following Government rules to stay at home unless travel is essential.
Mr Khan said: 'I have been clear that our incredible public transport staff – on the buses, tubes, trams and trains – are critical workers, making a heroic effort to allow our NHS staff to save more lives.
'But we need to play our part too and that means fewer Londoners using the public transport network.
'Please follow the rules. Stay at home and do not use public transport unless it is absolutely unavoidable.'
The nation will tonight hear from the Queen as the monarch delivers an address in which she will urge Britain to prove that this generation is 'as strong as any'.
There are fears the current warm weather could tempt people to disobey social distancing measures and the government will be hoping the Queen's address will persuade people to stick to the rules, especially as the sun shines.
Lambeth Council tweeted yesterday to say that Brockwell Park had been shut because of the 'unacceptable' behaviour of some people.
Mr Hancock today said ending lockdown measures 'depends on how people behave' as he urged everyone to stay at home but failed to set out a timeline for life to go back to normal.
He told Sky News: 'Every single person watching this programme can do their bit to get us out of this faster and they do their bit by following the social distancing rules.'
Labour's new leader Sir Keir Starmer said his party will back the government if it decides to ban public exercise.
He told the BBC: 'Yes, we would. We do have to take whatever steps are necessary and social distancing, staying indoors is really difficult for people… but we have got to get through this and every time people break the guidance from the government they put other people at risk.'
It came as it emerged that Mr Hancock and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are locked in a battle over when to lift the economically devastating lockdown.
Mr Sunak has made 'robust' representations to the Health Secretary, arguing that unless a path is mapped now for a swift return to normal economic activity it could cause lasting damage to the country.
Government critics of Mr Hancock argue his 'careerist' fear of being personally blamed for a collapse in the NHS is blinding him to the dangers of a protracted lockdown.
But allies of Mr Hancock hit back last night, saying: 'He is just doing his job, which is to protect the NHS.'
A formal decision about the extension of the strict social distancing rules cannot be made until Good Friday – the earliest point at which its effects would register on the infection figures.
However, with more than 700 extra deaths recorded yesterday, an extension for at least another three weeks after Easter is seen as a formality.
Mr Hancock today dismissed the claims regarding his relationship with Mr Sunak as he said: 'We are working very closely together and what matters is that we can get out of this as fast as possible and to do that we have to make sure that as many people as possible follow the rules so that we can slow the spread.'
The Queen will tonight deliver a televised message in which she will recognise the pain felt by many families living through this 'time of disruption'.
She will personally thank front-line NHS staff, care workers and others carrying out essential roles for their efforts, in what is expected to be a deeply personal message reflecting her experience in other difficult times.
The UK death toll yesterday rose by 708 - bringing the number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths to 4,313 as of 5pm on Friday, up from 3,605 the day before. A five-year-old child was among the victims.
The Queen will say in her address to the country and Commonwealth: 'I hope in the years to come everyone will be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.
'And those who come after us will say that the Britons of this generation were as strong as any.
'That the attributes of self-discipline, of quiet, good-humoured resolve and of fellow feeling still characterise this country.'
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