UK coronavirus death toll rises to 31,587

The latest figures from the Department of Health show that a total of 31,587 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, up by 346 from 31,241 the day before.

But the number of deaths involving Covid-19 that have been registered across the UK currently stands at 33,021.

This includes 29,710 deaths that occurred in England and Wales up to April 24 (and which had been registered up to May 2), according to the Office for National Statistics.

The latest provisional figures from NHS England show that a further 3,610 hospital patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between April 25 and May 8 – which, together with the total figure of 33,021 registered deaths, suggests the overall death toll for the UK has now passed 36,500.

The number of daily coronavirus tests fell below Health Secretary Matt Hancock's 100,000 target for a seventh day in a row.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said 96,878 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 9am on Saturday, down from 97,029 the day before.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that in preparation for Prime Minister Boris Johnson setting out a road map for the UK to exit lockdown on Sunday, he was going to outline an "ambitious" programme for the transport network.

But speaking at the daily Downing Street press briefing on Saturday, he warned that it will take some time for things to get back to normal.

He added: "Moving beyond Covid will be a gradual process, not a single leap to freedom, so when we do emerge the world will seem quite different."