Health Secretary Matt Hancock has ordered Brits to stay home as the weekend forecast brings sunshine, warning it’s not a request – “it’s an instruction”.
It comes as as the UK’s death toll earlier increased to 3,605, Britain suffered its deadliest day yet with 684 people dying from coronavirus in 24 hours.
“The disease is still spreading and we absolutely cannot afford to relax the social distancing measures we have in place.
“We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.
“This advice is not a request. It is an instruction. Stay at home, protect lives, and then you will be doing your part.”
The death toll now stands at 3,605 with 38,168 people having tested positive for the disease, the Department of Health has confimed.
Mr Hancock has pledged to ramp up the UK’s testing capacity to 100,000 a day after the government came under fire for its slow testing of as NHS staff.
A total 38,168 people have now tested positive for the disease, the Department of Health has confimed.
The senior Cabinet Minister is hosting Number 10 daily digital coronavirus news conference.
He said the NHS has increased critical care beds to care for coronavirus by over 2,500 – before the Nightingale hospitals.
Mr Hancocksaid: “Over 2,000 critical care beds are free and available, and they’re ready should they be needed.”
Earlier today Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed his self-isolation must continue for a longer period as he recovers from Covid-19.
The leader issued a video message today urging Brits to stay home this weekend as the forecast looks set to bring enticingly warmer temperature and sunshine.
Mr Hancock used yesterday’s Downing Street address to the nation to announced huge swathes of NHS debt would be wiped, to free up hospitals to concentrate on tackling the coronavirus crisis.
The NHS is gearing up for the biggest fight since its inception.
Prince Charles today officially opened London’s new NHS Nightingale Hospital which will treat intensive care Covid-19 patients.
Today the government announced work will soon begin on two further Nightingale Hospitals in Bristol, with a capacity of 1,000 beds and in Harrogate, which will hold 500 beds.
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