UK coronavirus death toll jumps 113 in one day to 578 as deadly bug sweeps Britain

It comes as:

• Experts predict cases of the virus will peak by Easter
• A schoolgirl who showed no signs of coronavirus tests positive
• Covid-19 vaccines could be available within six months
• A mum died after paramedics told her she was "not a priority".
• A Sussex dad is believed to be Britain's first coronavirus patient

The death toll for the UK stood at 465 at the end of Wednesday with 43 people falling victim to the killer virus.

The figures were down from the previous day, which saw 87 people die in what was the UK's biggest death rate jump yet.

But the lower rise was because the figures only covered 9am to 5pm - not the usual 24 hours, the Department of Health confirmed.

There are now fears that half of the UK population may have already contracted the virus. as only hospital patients are now being routinely screened.

Experts have predicted that the worst of the virus will peak by Easter, in three weeks time.

Deputy chief medical officer, Dr Jenny Harries agreed that we could be through the worst of it in that time.

She said: "If people have cut down their social interactions, we would start to see a change in the graph.

"The peak will be pushed forward but the height will be lower and we can manage NHS hospital care safely."

Meanwhile, an army of more than 560,000 people have signed up to help the NHS.

The Volunteer Responders, who signed up at a rate of five per second, will be tasked with delivering vital medicines and shopping to 1.5million patients isolating from the killer virus.

And they are likely to be busy - as a new monitoring app suggests 6.6 million Brits may already have the deadly bug.

Researchers from King's College London, who launched the Covid Symptom Tracker, say ten per cent of the 650,000 people who signed up to the app in the first 24 hours showed signs of the virus.

It comes as police today launched coronavirus checkpoints to spot-check drivers in a desperate bid to stop non-essential travel.

Cops across the UK have been asking drivers where they are going and why they are going there.

They have also been handed new powers to fine Brits up to £1000 for breaking rules for being outside their homes from today.

And Chancellor Rishi Sunak tonight revealed a bumper package of help for 3.8million of Britain's army of self-employed workers, but it will take months for any help to reach them.

Brits earning up to £50,000 will be able to get up to 80 per cent of that back.