UK coronavirus death toll hits 41,128 as 245 more people die – but new cases at lowest since lockdown

THE UK coronavirus death toll has today passed 41,000 after 245 more people died – but new cases are at their lowest since lockdown.

The 41,128 fatalities come as the lockdown continues to ease across the UK, with hopes social distancing could soon be relaxed.

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Another 1,003 people have tested positive for the deadly bug – taking the total number who have been infected to 290,143.

The number of people dying of the disease each continues to fall steadily, with a slight drop from the 286 victims yesterday – and almost half of the 359 a week ago.

Infections are also decreasing. The 1,003 new cases is the lowest rise since the day of lockdown, when 967 people were diagnosed with the virus.

England health authorities today confirmed another 88 patients killed by the bug were aged between 43 and 102 years old, with three including a 53-year-old having no known underlying health condition.

Scotland reported another 12 fatalities to see the toll rise to 2,434 while Wales today recorded another nine deaths, bringing the total there to 1,419.

And in heartening news, Northern Ireland recorded zero deaths from the bug for the fourth day in a row.

But the true number is also likely to be much higher after figures released by the Office for National Statistics yesterday revealed the death toll is actually 51,766 – 10,000 more than the official figure.

The reopening of shops and zoos comes as businesses have been crippled by the lockdown.

It comes as…

• Clothes, toy and betting shops in England will be allowed to open their doors once again from June 15
• Zoos and safari parks will be allowed to reopen next Monday
• The 2m rule could be slashed if coronavirus infections fall
• Pubs will remain closed until July 4

Today alone, Frankie & Benny’s owner announced it would be closing 125 of its restaurants while fashion chain Quiz also revealed part of its business would be put into administration.

And it has been suggested the 2m distancing rule could be slashed if the number of infections falls.

MPs and campaigners have been lobbying to cut the 2m rule down to save thousands of businesses and jobs.

Businesses fear that having to stay so far apart will cripple them, as they will only be able to run at a small percentage of their total capacity.

Other countries around the world have cut their distances down to 1.5m or even 1m.

But British scientists say that 2m is the safest distance that two people who are not in the same household can be from one another – without being at risk of catching the virus.

There are also fears that more than 10million Brits will be stuck on NHS waiting lists due to the repercussions of coronavuris.

NHS Confederation, which represents health and care leaders, warns hospitals “face an uphill battle” to treat Covid patients, while maintaining effective cancer, stroke and heart disease services.

It estimates waiting lists for non-critical ops will hit ten million by Christmas – up from 4.2 million before the crisis.

But without a vaccine or treatment on the horizon, health bosses fear it could reach 11 million.

And thousands of asthma sufferes across the UK are at greater risk as they feel under pressure to return to work, a charity warned today.

At the start of the coronavirus lockdown in March people with Asthma were placed in the clinically vulnerable group.

Now Asthma UK says two in five people with the condition (42 per cent) are being put at risk in the workplace.