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| Coronavirus: UK cases 'could be moving in the right direction' | Coronavirus: UK cases 'could be moving in the right direction' |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The number of coronavirus cases in the UK "could be moving in the right direction", the government's chief scientific adviser has said. | The number of coronavirus cases in the UK "could be moving in the right direction", the government's chief scientific adviser has said. |
| Speaking at the daily Downing Street briefing, Sir Patrick Vallance said it was "possible that we're beginning to see... the curve flattening". | Speaking at the daily Downing Street briefing, Sir Patrick Vallance said it was "possible that we're beginning to see... the curve flattening". |
| He added, however, it would be another "week or so" before he could be sure. | He added, however, it would be another "week or so" before he could be sure. |
| The foreign secretary, meanwhile, said the PM, who is in intensive care, is in "good spirits" and "stable". | The foreign secretary, meanwhile, said the PM, who is in intensive care, is in "good spirits" and "stable". |
| It comes as the number of coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK rose to 6,159 - a record increase of 786 in a day, the Department of Health and Social Care said, compared with 439 on Monday. | It comes as the number of coronavirus hospital deaths in the UK rose to 6,159 - a record increase of 786 in a day, the Department of Health and Social Care said, compared with 439 on Monday. |
| So far, 55,242 people have tested positive in the UK - an increase of 3,634 on Monday's figures. | So far, 55,242 people have tested positive in the UK - an increase of 3,634 on Monday's figures. |
| Speaking about the number of new cases, Sir Patrick said: "It is possible that we're beginning to see the beginning of change in terms of the curve flattening a little bit. | Speaking about the number of new cases, Sir Patrick said: "It is possible that we're beginning to see the beginning of change in terms of the curve flattening a little bit. |
| "We won't know that for sure until a week or so. But what we're not seeing is an acceleration." | "We won't know that for sure until a week or so. But what we're not seeing is an acceleration." |
| Sir Patrick stressed it was important to continue with the social distancing measures to ensure a reduction in the number of new cases. | |
| Today's figures are a record high and bring the currently reported death toll above 6,000 for the first time. The rise of 786 is higher than Saturday's previous peak of 708 deaths reported in a single day. | Today's figures are a record high and bring the currently reported death toll above 6,000 for the first time. The rise of 786 is higher than Saturday's previous peak of 708 deaths reported in a single day. |
| We also know that this figure misses deaths that occurred but have not yet been reported, so the true death toll at this point is likely higher. | We also know that this figure misses deaths that occurred but have not yet been reported, so the true death toll at this point is likely higher. |
| If there is any silver lining to these grim figures, it is that they represent the fourth day in a row of below-trend growth. | If there is any silver lining to these grim figures, it is that they represent the fourth day in a row of below-trend growth. |
| For weeks up until Friday's figures, the number of deaths had been doubling every three and a half days. Had that trend continued, we would have seen close to 1,400 deaths today. | For weeks up until Friday's figures, the number of deaths had been doubling every three and a half days. Had that trend continued, we would have seen close to 1,400 deaths today. |
| So 786 is better than that, although it's still too soon to know what's causing it. It could be a big bottleneck in reporting (we've seen that after previous weekends) or genuine evidence that growth is truly slowing down. | So 786 is better than that, although it's still too soon to know what's causing it. It could be a big bottleneck in reporting (we've seen that after previous weekends) or genuine evidence that growth is truly slowing down. |
| More hopefully, for almost a week, daily new cases have been holding steady at about 4,000 a day, suggesting that, while we are still seeing new cases, the growth in this figure could be stalling. | More hopefully, for almost a week, daily new cases have been holding steady at about 4,000 a day, suggesting that, while we are still seeing new cases, the growth in this figure could be stalling. |
| Asked whether the current lockdown measures would be extended, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government would make a decision when "the time is right" but that "we are not at that stage yet". | |
| He said social distancing measures were "helping", and that people must continue to adhere to them over the Easter weekend. | |
| The foreign secretary also issued a short statement on Prime Minister Boris Johnson. | |
| Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in central London with "persistent symptoms" of Covid-19 on Sunday and was moved to intensive care on Monday evening after his symptoms worsened. | Mr Johnson was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital in central London with "persistent symptoms" of Covid-19 on Sunday and was moved to intensive care on Monday evening after his symptoms worsened. |
| Mr Raab, who is deputising for Mr Johnson, said the PM was receiving "standard oxygen treatment" and had not been on a ventilator. | |
| "For all of us in cabinet he's not just our boss - he's also a colleague and he's also our friend," he said. | |
| He added: "I'm confident he will pull through because if there is one thing that I know about this prime minister is he is a fighter and he will be back leading us through this crisis in short order. | |
| As first secretary of state, Mr Raab is the minister designated to stand in for Mr Johnson if he is unwell and unable to work. | |
| In a further development, Sir Patrick said he could not guarantee there would be enough Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in every individual hospital throughout the epidemic. | |
| However, in terms of demand, he said "there shouldn't be an overall increase above the number of beds available" across the whole NHS. | |
| "The NHS has done an amazing job of increasing the overall capacity of ICU and so things seem to be tracking in the right direction," he said. |