The number of people who have died after contracting coronavirus have risen to 28,446, up by 315 deaths since yesterday.
Michael Gove addressing the Daily Downing Street briefing said that there had been 1,206,405 coronavirus tests in the UK as of 9am today, 76,496 in the previous 24 hours.
Professor Stephen Powis, the national medical director of NHS England said there had been a dip” in the number of coronavirus tests conducted over the weekend, but added that the testing level is expected to increase over the coming days. It’s “evident” the rate of coronavirus transmission in the community is decreasing despite the increase in testing which would show up more cases.
Powis also said that the number of hospital admissions for coronavirus, as well as the number of occupied critical care beds were continuing to fall across the country.The falling number of deaths also indicated that we were past the peak of the virus in the UK.
200,000 key workers and their families had been tested so far for coronavirus.
The criteria for testing had been extended beyond key workers to anyone over 65 displaying symptoms and anyone who has to travel to get to work.
Gove confirmed that this week the government will be piloting new “test, track and trace procedures” on the Isle of Wight with a view to having them in place more widely later this month.
