A further nine people have died with coronavirus, bringing the UK death toll to 41,486.
The new figure, released on Friday by the Department of Health and Social Care, covers fatalities in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. It follows another 12 deaths reported yesterday.
A total of 331,644 people have been diagnosed with Covid-19 across the country since the start of the pandemic. In the past 24 hours, another 1,276 positive tests have been reported.
It comes as figures show the number of people passing away with Covid-19 has fallen in all regions across England, although infection rates have increased.
The mortality rate is currently highest in the north-west, where some areas are coming out of local lockdowns, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
Parts of Manchester and Lancashire are to be released next week, council leaders confirmed today.
Residents in the Greater Manchester boroughs of Trafford, Bolton and Stockport will no longer be subject to restrictions on socialising in other people’s homes and gardens from next Wednesday.
Burnley and Hyndburn in Lancashire will also see lockdowns eased – however, Preston, Pendle and Blackburn with Darwen will remain under tighter government rules.
Officials revealed the latest weekly guidance ahead of an expected official announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care.
It comes amid reports the prime minister is to warn UK workers that working from home will leave them more ‘vulnerable’ to losing their jobs.
Boris Johnson is expected to launch a campaign to get staff back into offices next week, offering reassurance that workspaces are safe and highlighting the mental health benefits of leaving home.
However, the government will also reportedly caution of the ‘problems’ that working from home could create in the longterm.
A government source told the Telegraph: ‘People need to understand that working from home isn’t the benign option it seems. We need workers to be alert to what decisions their bosses may take in the weeks ahead.
‘If they are only seeing workers once a fortnight then that could prove problematic for some employees in the future. We want employees to be careful what working arrangements they accept.
‘Suddenly the word “restricted” is bandied about and people who have been working from home find themselves in the most vulnerable position.’
Meanwhile, a new study has suggested it is ‘vanishingly rare’ for children to die with coronavirus as young people prepare to return to school next week.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool said parents should feel ‘reassured’ sending their children back as it is incredibly unusual for them to suffer from severe symptoms.
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