Another 209 dead from coronavirus across the UK

The UK’s coronavirus death rate has continued to fall after another 209 people were confirmed dead across the UK.

NHS England today recorded 183 more deaths in hospitals – but this does not take into account other settings like care homes.

Across all settings, Scotland announced 13 more deaths, Wales had 11 and Northern Ireland had two.

A preliminary daily tally of 209 is calculated by adding up the individual counts announced by each of the home nations.

The latest figures were released after it emerged whole towns could face tough ‘local lockdowns’ if there are regional ‘flare-ups’ of coronavirus.

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The Prime Minister is set to announce more about the new measures and the Government’s ‘track and trace system’, which could be thrown in place from Thursday.

Boris Johnson had pledged to introduce the system by June 1, but it is being rushed forward before primary school classes return on Monday, The Sun reports.

An army of 25,000 contact tracers will reportedly begin work hunting down new cases so coronavirus sufferers can be rapidly isolated.

Meanwhile, MPs are being given just 20 minutes to question Mr Johnson about Dominic Cummings today as he appears before the Commons Liaison Committee.

The PM’s top aide remains at the centre of a political storm after he drove more than 250 miles to Durham while suffering from coronavirus symptoms in March.

At least 30 Tory MPs have called for him to be sacked by Mr Johnson, while senior ministers are reported to have privately demanded he go.

MPs will be able to ask the PM questions about the situation during today’s committee hearing, but a rundown of the agenda revealed that only 20 minutes of the 90-minute session will be given to the discussion.

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