Britain announces 52 more Covid-19 deaths in early count – including a three-month high of seven in Scotland
- England confirmed another 43 deaths, with one apiece in Wales and N. Ireland
- Full update will be published this afternoon by the Department of Health
- Past week has seen an average 35 deaths per day and 6,087 cases in the UK
A further 52 coronavirus deaths have been announced in the UK’s early count this afternoon, with 43 in England, seven in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland.
The numbers add to evidence that the death count is continuing to grow as cases surge, but the daily average remains 95 per cent lower than it was at the peak.
The seven fatalities in Scotland are its highest one-day increase in more than three months, since there were nine announced on June 17.
A full round-up of the whole UK’s fatalities and new cases is expected from the Department of Health later this afternoon.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to hold a television briefing at 5pm today to impress on the nation the importance of following social distancing rules.
Mr Johnson is facing backlash against the use of his chief medical advisers Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance, who are also set to appear in the briefing, as ‘scientific propaganda’ to justify tough social distancing rules.
Cases have this week hit an average of 6,087 per day with 7,143 confirmed yesterday.
Positive tests are now higher than they were even at the peak of the crisis but this is because 10 times as many tests are being done, not because the outbreak is bigger.
Tensions are running high in Westminster as the numbers of coronavirus cases continue to grow but ministers are divided over what to do.
The PM has been urged to drop scientists Sir Patrick and Professor Whitty from TV briefings, with complaints that they are being used as ‘propaganda’ to back up increasingly draconian restrictions.
MailOnline understands some Cabinet ministers are increasingly frustrated by the dire warnings from the medical and science chiefs about a second wave.
Former Downing Street aides have been calling on the government to take the experts out of the limelight, warning they are not great communicators and it gave the impression decisions were clear cut rather than a matter of judgement for ministers.
Senior Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin upped the ante today by swiping that the government is using ‘science as propaganda’.