UK coronavirus death toll rises by 38 to 41,736

Less than 100,000 tests carried out in last 24 hours, admits Department of Health

The UK death toll from coronavirus has risen by 38 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 41,736, according to the government.

It marked only a slight increase on yesterday’s total of 36, which was itself the lowest daily rise since lockdown began in March.

However reporting is regularly lower on weekends and other official statistics suggest the true figure is well over 60,000..

A further 1,056 people tested positive for Covid-19 after just over 93,000 tests were carried out on Sunday, the Department of Health and Social Care said.

The daily test figures include 13,452 antibody tests and 28,478 testing kits sent out in the post.

It brings the total number of positive tests across the UK to 296,857.

The UK has the third highest number of deaths in the world, behind the US with over 115,000 and Brazil with 43,332.

It has the fifth highest number of confirmed cases behind the US, Brazil, Russia and India.

The latest figures were released as thousands of non-essential shops across England opened their doors to customers for the first time in almost three months.

In the latest easing of the coronavirus lockdown rules, zoos and safari parks also welcomed back visitors and places of worship opened for private prayer.

Some secondary school pupils have also begun returning to classrooms.

Meanwhile police officers have urged Priti Patel to impose an emergency ban on all protests during the coronavirus pandemic, warning officers were being put at risk by wave of a mass demonstrations.