Lowest rise in UK coronavirus daily death toll since lockdown began

41,698 people have now died with Covid-19 in the UK, latest government figures show

File image of health workers wheeling a patient with Covid-19 symptoms on a hospital trolley. (Martin Bernetti/AFP via Getty Images)

The latest government figures show 36 people have died with coronavirus in the lowest daily rise since lockdown began in March.

The figures show 41,698 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday.

This is an increase of 36 deaths from 41,662 the day before – the lowest rise since 23 March.

However, reporting of deaths is regularly lower on weekends and the figures did not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have surpassed 52,000.

The Department for Health and Social Care also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Sunday, 144,865 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 1,514 positive results.

Overall, a total of 6,772,602 tests have been carried out and 295,889 cases have been confirmed positive.

The figure for the number of people tested has been “temporarily paused to ensure consistent reporting” across all methods of testing.

Boris Johnson has said the falling numbers of coronavirus cases has given the government “more margin for manoeuvre” in relaxing the two-metre social-distancing rule.

The prime minister, who has ordered a “comprehensive” review of the regulation in England, said “probably” fewer than one in 1,000 people now had the virus, meaning the chances of coming in contact with someone who was infected were increasingly remote.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Sunday said the review would look at the issue “in the round”, drawing on advice from economists as well as the government’s scientific and medical advisers.

He said it would be ministers, not the scientists, who would take the decisions on any relaxation of the two-metre requirement.

The move comes as non-essential shops in England prepare to open their doors to customers on Monday for the first time since the lockdown was imposed.

Additional reporting by PA