Covid cases rise by 2,379 as another 20 deaths recorded

Another 20 people have died with Covid, while 2,379 new cases have been reported in the UK.

The fatalities bring the official death toll to 126,862. However, the ONS puts the number of coronavirus deaths significantly higher, with more than 150,000 mentions of the virus on death certificates.

A total of 4,364,529 positive tests have been recorded across the country since the pandemic hit.

Meanwhile, 31,622,367 people have been given the first dose of a vaccine, while 5,496,716 have had their second.

Boris Johnson confirmed last night that the next stage of England’s roadmap out of lockdown will officially go ahead on Monday.

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to serve customers outdoors in beer gardens and on patios from April 12.

All non-essential shops can also welcome back customers and gyms, indoor swimming pools and personal beauty services can reopen.

Addressing a Downing Street press conference yesterday, the PM said: ’I want to thank you all again for your patience because it is really clear now that this is paying off and it’s your collective efforts, our collective efforts that have given us the crucial time and space to vaccinate more than 31 million people.

‘And that result of your efforts and of course with the vaccine rollout, is that I can today confirm that from Monday, April 12 we will move to step two of our roadmap.

‘Reopening shops, gyms, zoos, holidays campsites, personal care services like hairdressers and of course beer gardens and outdoor hospitality of all kinds.

‘I will be going to the pub myself and cautiously but irreversibly raising a pint of beer to my lips.’

A Government plan to potentially introduce vaccine passports across the country is currently facing backlash from more than 70 MPs.

There are hopes the scheme will be useful in managing large crowds of people – including at music festivals, sporting matches and nightclubs – after all social contact rules are eased on June 21.

Ministers have not ruled out using them in pubs and restaurants, as well as clothing stores.

However, Tory former minister Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the Covid Recovery Group of Conservatives, slammed the documents as ‘discriminatory’ and ‘entirely un-British’ today.

It comes as Government scientists warn a third Covid wave is ‘highly likely’ once the UK fully comes out of lockdown in the summer.

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