UK coronavirus LIVE: Death toll up by 137 as top scientist warns of 'superspreading' risk in pubs

The Government's top scientific and medical advisers have issued stark warnings to the public ahead of Saturday's major lockdown relaxation in England.

Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser, pointed to the risks of coronavirus “superspreading” in pubs as they prepare to reopen. While chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty reminded Britons that the pandemic “is a long way from gone”.

Their comments came after the Government paved the way for holidaymakers to go abroad this summer by publishing a list of countries that are exempt from the 14-day travel quarantine rules .

In other developments, the UK's official virus death toll rose to 44,131, with another 137 fatalities confirmed overnight. However, the Department of Health figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 54,000.

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