Official UK death toll rises to 38,376 after another 215 die
Figures were released by the Department of Health this afternoon and consist of deaths in all settings, including care homes.
The UK’s official death toll from Covid-19 has risen to 38,376 after another 215 people died having contracted the virus.
Figures were released by the Department of Health this afternoon and consist of deaths in all settings, including care homes.
In total, the government said 4,171,408 tests have been carried out, including 127,722 yesterday. In total, 272,826 people have tested positive, including 2,445 new cases confirmed yesterday.
Earlier, NHS England announced 146 more deaths had been recorded in hospitals since yesterday. Across the devolved administrations, Scotland announced 22 more deaths, Wales had 14 and Northern Ireland had one.
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The latest statistics were released as a growing number of government advisors speak out against the timing of the decision to ease lockdown restrictions in England.
Oxford University Professor Peter Horby lent his voice to those of scientists Sir Jeremy Farrar and Professor John Edmunds, all members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), to warn that ministers are taking a risk lifting them so soon.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that from Monday in England, friends and families can meet in parks and gardens in socially distanced groups of six.
But as temperatures nudge the high 20s and people flock to beaches and beauty spots this weekend, police chiefs have complained their officers face an impossible situation of trying to force the public to comply with existing rules in the knowledge many of them will be dropped on Monday.
Northumbria’s Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said: ‘One of the hallmarks of the government’s handling of this deadly pandemic has sadly been a series of mistimed and badly explained messages.
‘By pre-announcing changes to lockdown ahead of a tempting weekend of sunshine, the PM must have known he was going to create a situation that is difficult to police.’
Other forces have warned that people will be fined if they turn up to parks and beaches in large groups across the area this weekend.
The ‘R’ rate – the rate the virus reproduces – is just below one between 0.7 and 0.9.
Previously, officials have said it needs to be well below one for lockdown to be eased.
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