UK coronavirus cases are stabilising but NHS warns ‘no room for complacency’

NHS England's medical director Stephen Powis said it was a long time before social distancing would have its maximum effect.

Coronavirus cases have begun to ‘stabilise’ in the UK but it will still take time for social distancing to have its maximum effect, NHS England’s medical director has said.

Stephen Powis told the Downing Street press briefing that the latest figures suggested new cases had begun to ‘stabilise’ but added that there was ‘no room for complacency’ and everyone should continue to adhere strictly to lockdown rules.

The UK saw another record breaking leap in Covid-19 deaths today, with another 708 people dying in the past 24 hours.

Mr Powis said death figures will continue to be high for the next week or two but said there was some reason to be hopeful, with the rate of new cases slowing.

However, he warned that taking the foot off the pedal too soon would lead to a surge in cases and said it was too early to outline an exit strategy.

He issued a plea to every member of the public on behalf of NHS staff ‘to follow the instructions that they have been provided with’.

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He said: ‘It’s the lives and the health of all of us, our friends, our relatives, your friends, your relatives, that depend upon us following these instructions.

‘This is the time we need to make sure we stick to that guidance and don’t deviate from it.

‘We need to reduce social contact, stop transmission and reduce the spread of the virus.

‘By doing that, we will start to protect the NHS and save lives.’

There are fears people will flout social distancing rules this weekend as temperatures soar.

At today’s daily briefing Michael Gove asked people in the UK to ‘resist the temptation’ to go outside and enjoy the sunny weather, reminding the public of the NHS staff who have sacrificed their lives to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster offered his ‘heartfelt condolences to the grieving families’ of healthcare staff and the ‘many others’ who have lost loved ones to Covid-19.

He paid tribute to a five-year-old child who became the UK’s youngest coronavirus victim today, as well as a 13-year-old boy whose mum and siblings could not attend his funeral after they began to show symptoms.

Mr Gove said: ‘I know that life under lockdown can be challenging and some will be tempted on this sunny weekend to venture out and about.

‘But, as the health secretary underlined yesterday, if we relax our adherence to the rules, we increase the risk for others.

‘That’s why it’s so important to stay at home, to protect the NHS and to save lives. ‘We need to think of those on the frontline and the sacrifices that they’re making for us.’

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