UK coronavirus death toll rises to 16,509 after 449 more people die in lowest increase for a fortnight

THE UK coronavirus death toll today rose to 16,509 after 449 more fatalities were recorded in the lowest increase for a fortnight.

The last time the daily death toll was that low was two weeks ago on April 6 when 439 fatalities were reported.

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While there is often a drop in Monday's figures due to a lag in reporting over the weekend, the new tally comes as a government adviser yesterday said the UK had probably passed the first coronavirus peak.

However, infections have continued to grow with 4,676 positive tests bringing the total number of cases to 124,743, according to the Department of Health.

Meanwhile England's daily fatality figures were the lowest recorded in a month after recording 319 deaths on March 31.

Scotland today recorded 12 more fatalities, bringing its total to 915.

A further nine people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, bringing the total number of deaths there to 584. Northern Ireland announced another 13 cases.

Yesterday, the number of coronavirus recorded in a day hit 596 - the lowest Sunday tally for three weeks.

And the figure was about a third down from Saturday's 888 increase, although statistics released over the weekend are generally lower.

According to the latest NHS England numbers released today, patients killed by the bug included people aged between 40 and 101-years-old.

It comes as:

• Britain's lockdown could remain partly in place for a total of three months
• Public Health England has been accused of being caught like 'rabbits in the headlines' when the crisis hit
• Prince Philip, 98, issued a rare public statement to praise 'vital' workers on the frontline
• Piers Morgan blasted the Culture Secretary for 'grotesquely underestimating' the number of people killed by the bug
• Scientists are probing a link between survival rates and Vitamin D

Brits have been told they will remain in lockdown for at least another three weeks to stop the bug from spreading even further across the country.

Over the weekend, a possible exit strategy was revealed that would see the country eased out of lockdown if infection rates slow in the next four weeks.

But pubs could remain closed until Christmas as part of the lockdown.

And Boris Johnson reportedly warned he was very cautious about lifting the shutdown for fear of a second wave.

The PM reportedly shared his views during a two-hour meeting on Friday, with a source telling the Times: "The idea that we will be rushing to lift measures is a non-starter."

Last night, the Cabinet Office led issued a furious rebuttal of claims it had mishandled the crisis and Boris Johnson had missed crucial Cobra meetings.

Ministers had earlier been forced to defend the PM after claims that he was absent from COBRA meetings held to discuss a possible pandemic coming out of China in January and February.

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Livid Number 10 officials released a 14-point assessment of a lengthy article in The Times, which they said “misrepresents” their work.

The response said: ";This is an unprecedented global pandemic and we have taken the right steps at the right time to combat it, guided at all times by the best scientific advice."

Meanwhile, doctors threatened to stop treating patients as a delivery of 400,000 protective gowns was delayed.

RAF aircraft were due to be flying in 84 tonnes of personal protective equipment (PPE) from an airbase in Turkey yesterday, with up to 95 medics and carers feared to have died with Covid-19 in the UK.

The British Medical Association's Dr Chaand Nagpaul described the delay as "very concerning".

Professor Neil Mortensen, from the Royal College of Surgeons, has told colleagues not to risk their health if good PPE could not be used when treating coronavirus patients.

Public Health England changed its advice on Friday to allow reuse of gowns that is normally single-use only or even wear white lab coats and wash them afterwards.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has backed a call for the UK to observe a minute's silence to remember health and care workers who have died with Covid-19.

The Royal College of Nursing, the Royal College of Midwives, and Unison, want the tribute to be held at 11am on April 28, International Workers’ Memorial Day.

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