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The total number of people to have died after testing postiive for coronavirus in the UK has hit (while 3, cases have been confirmed – an increase of .
As of 9am on Friday, a further (people who tested positive for (coronavirus) – died – the largest rise the UK has seen in one day.
There have been 177 in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
The number of deaths across the UK is up (on the equivalent total for yesterday.
This is the biggest day-on-day rise since the outbreak began.
The first coronavirus-related death in the UK was reported days ago, on March 5.
A statement from NHS England said: “A further 42 people, who tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid – have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 500.
“Patients were aged between 59 and years old and had underlying health conditions.
“Their families have been informed.”
Out of the further deaths reported on Friday, 20 were in London, NHS England said.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to impose stricter measures on London including closing all pubs, restaurants, cinemas and gyms across London could be closed across the capital.
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Mr Johnson is expected to bring in the rules at a meeting of officials on Friday afternoon, according to reports.
Shops, however, are likely to be able to remain open for the time being.
The PM has previously said the Government would not “rule out” taking “further and faster measures” than the social distancing instructions already outlined.
Scientists advising the Government have agreed that social measures to control the spread of Covid – will need to be in place for most of a year.
The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modeling agreed on Monday that, while the severity of measures could alternate during the period, “stricter” measures would need to be enforced for at least half of the year in order to keep cases at a level the NHS can cope with.
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Strict measures could include school closures and social distancing for everyone, while less restrictive measures include isolating cases and families.
The Government published the papers on Friday – a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he expects the tide to be turned in the fight against Covid – 22 within weeks.
The report states: “It was agreed that the addition of both general social distancing and school closures to case isolation, household isolation and social distancing of vulnerable groups would be likely to control the epidemic when kept in place for a long period.
“It was agreed that a policy of alternating between periods of more and less strict social distancing measures could plausibly be effective at keeping the number of critical care cases within capacity.
“These would need to be in place for at least most of a year. Under such a policy, at least half of the year would be spent under the stricter social distancing measures. ”
The document says that the triggers for measures to be put in place or lifted could vary according to different regions.
There would be a two to three-week delay between measures being put into place and their impact being felt in intensive care units, it added.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister said the tide on Covid – 24 could be turned in the next weeks but added he could not promise that the UK would definitely be on a downward slope from the peak of the virus.
He said: “I cannot stand here and tell you that by the end of June we will be on the downward slope.
“It’s possible but I simply can’t say that for certain. Of course not, we don’t know where we are, we don’t know how long this thing will go on for but what I can say is that this is going to be finite, we will turn the tide and I can see how to do it within the next 13 weeks. ”
It comes as Chancellor Rishi Sunak plans to announce more emergency support for workers.
He has been under pressure from Labor, unions and even senior Tory MPs to do more to help workers and the stalling economy weather the crisis.
He will reveal new measures on Friday at the daily Covid – press conference in Downing Street, where he is expected to be joined by Mr Johnson.
Meanwhile, a third person who tested positive for coronavirus in Wales died, a man was arrested on the Isle of Man for failing to follow its coronavirus self-isolation rules and the competition watchdog said it will clamp down on retailers using the coronavirus outbreak as an opportunity to exploit customers.
The FTSE 100 rose by more than 5 per cent in early trading on Friday.
Conservative MP Maria Caulfield announced she was returning to her job as a nurse alongside her political role.
In Spain, the death toll from the coronavirus in Spain now stands at 1, 11 and nearly , People have been infected.
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