The number of people in hospitalbeds in London, the epicentre of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak, has dropped.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Prof Jonathan Van-Tamsaid the capital’s cases were slowing, although he said it was rising in the North East and Yorkshire.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference, he said it was ‘impossible’ to say if we have reached a peak.
But he said: ‘I suggest to you the curve is beginning to bend and the hard work is beginning to pay off’.
However, he cautioned against being overly optimistic, adding ‘this is just not over and needs to continue.’
He said the broad trend is that ‘we have been in an increase phase now we at a point where we are at a high level and numbers are varying day by day.’
He added: ‘We are still in a dangerous phase. I must reinforce to you that this is not over. If you look at people diagnosed with Covid-19 who are in hospital beds in Britain, you can see that again from March 20 to April 9 there has been a steady increase but possibly you can see that the curve is bending.’
Another 980 people have died after contracting coronavirus, taking the UK death toll to at least 8,958. Today’s jump in deaths is the biggest daily increases since the outbreak began, following a rise of 881 yesterday and 938 on Wednesday.
To help the fight against coronavirus, it was today announced that two more new Nightingale Hospitals are being built in Sunderland and Exeter.
At the Downing Street briefing England’s Chief Nursing Officer Ruth May said: ‘We have freed up more than 30,000 beds, the equivalent of 50 general hospitals, in the past few weeks and that’s before opening the extraordinary NHS Nightingale Hospital in East London.
‘I am pleased to announced today that alongside the new hospitals in Birmingham, Manchester, Harrogate and Bristol, I can confirm that Sunderland and Exeter will soon see Nightingale hospitals in their communities too.’
She urged everyone to play their part by staying at home – a message that was repeated by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Police across the country caught people making getaways for the weekends, breaking Covid-19 lockdown rules against all non-essential travel.
He said: ‘This is a national effort, and every single person in this country can play their part in this plan.
‘This Easter will be another test of the nation’s resolve. It’s a time of year when people normally come together.
‘But however warm the weather, however tempting your local beach or park, we need everyone to stay at home. Because in hospitals across the country, NHS staff are battling day and night to keep desperately sick people breathing, and the need you to stay at home.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow
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