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Coronavirus: Number of UK deaths increase by 980 to 8,958

Photo taken at 12.31 shows tests being carried out at a coronavirus testing site in a car park at Chessington World of Adventures, in Greater London, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Tests carried out to detect the coronavirus, ahead of the latest figures being released. (PA Images)

The UK has recorded its deadliest day yet from the coronavirus pandemic after 980 people died from the virus in 24 hours, taking the total to 8,958.

Reported coronavirus deaths in England have increased by 866 to 8,114 in new figures released on Friday.

Scotland has reported 48 new deaths while Northern Ireland has recorded 10 more deaths today. Wales recorded 29 today, meaning a combined rise of 953 today.

Friday’s figure exceeds the worst numbers announced in Spain, and is just behind the highest daily count in Italy of 971 recorded two weeks ago.

A digital sign thanking NHS (National Health Service) staff is displayed over a road to try to help stop the spread of coronavirus in Manchester, northern England, Thursday, April 9, 2020. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Coronavirus figures in the UK are expected to rise for the next two weeks. (PA)

There are 73,758 infections, though the true number of cases is expected to be higher.

Globally, cases have now passed 1.5 million, while deaths have reached over 95,000 and recoveries have passed more than 350,000.

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Boris Johnson is out of intensive care and back in a ward at St Thomas’ Hospital after spending three nights in intensive care there.

The prime minister went in after his coronavirus symptoms worsened and he was given oxygen to help his breathing.

He was said to be in “extremely good spirits” but his father, Stanley Johnson, warned that he would need time to recover and could not leap back into decision making.

Stanley Johnson, who was previously criticised for saying he would still go to the pub after his son warned people to stay away and then later forced them to close, said: “He must rest up. As I understand it, he has moved from the ICU into a recovery unit but I don’t think you can say this is out of the woods now.

Stanley Johnson speaks at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, during an event calling for a ban on trophy hunting imports.
Stanley Johnson said his son could not suddenly return to decision making. (PA Images)

“He has to take time. I cannot believe you can walk away from this and get straight back to Downing Street and pick up the reins without a period of readjustment.”

A police chief has had to row back on remarks he made yesterday threatening to check shopper’s baskets and trolleys if people continued to flout coronavirus regulations.

Chief constable Nick Adderley said yesterday: “We will not, at this stage, be setting up road blocks. We will not, at this stage, start to marshal supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it’s a legitimate, necessary item.”

He later admitted his language was “clumsy” and home secretary Priti Patel described the comments as “not appropriate”.

Officials have been calling for people to stay at home despite the good weather anticipated over the long Easter bank holiday.

There have been fears this week that progress made at slowing the spread of the coronavirus would be undone if the public ventured out.

Dr Paul Cosford, medical director for Public Health England, told Good Morning Britain: “The most important thing now is we continue (to stay at home) so we can get through the peak and come down the other side.”

He added: “The principle is clear and that is stay at home unless you absolutely have to go out.”

Yesterday, the third of the weekly clap for carers demonstrations was held across the country in support of NHS staff.

Coronavirus: what happened today

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