UK coronavirus LIVE: Death toll passes 40,000 amid concerns over increasing Covid-19 transmissions in England

Coronavirus transmission levels in England are rising probably due to more travelling and mixing between households, a shock analysis warned today.

Research by a Cambridge University/Public Health England joint modelling team suggested the disease may now be spreading very slightly in the North West and is at a stand-still level in the South West, while a small increase in the R transmission rate in other regions would see the number of new cases starting to rise again.

It comes as the coronavirus death toll in the UK passed 40,000, with the Department of Health announcing 357 new deaths of Covid-19 in hospitals care homes and the wider community as of 5pm on Thursday.

The news also follows Grant Shapps's announcement that masks will be mandatory on public transport in England from June 15 in a bid to reduce the spread of the disease.

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