Britain’s coronavirus cases have continued to fall two weeks after lockdown was eased on April 12 but deaths have risen by one, new figures showed today.
The Government said there had been a further 1,712 lab-confirmed cases in the UK – a drop of 9 per cent compared to last week’s figure of 1,882.
Today 11 new deaths from the disease were recorded – a ten per cent increase on last Sunday’s figure of 10.
Data released today shows the total number of Covid cases has reached 4,404,882 whilst the total number of Covid deaths within 28 days of a positive test has reached the tragic total of 127,428.
The latest figures come as the government announced Britain is to send more than 600 pieces of medical equipment to India following a huge surge in coronavirus cases in the country.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the assistance package would include ventilators and oxygen concentrators from surplus stocks.
It said the first of nine planeloads of kit would arrive in New Delhi early on Tuesday.
In a statement, Boris Johnson said: ‘We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner during what is a deeply concerning time in the fight against Covid-19.
‘Vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.
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‘We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time and I’m determined to make sure that the UK does everything it can to support the international community in the global fight against (this) pandemic.’
Earlier today shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy and shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth called on Boris Johnson’s Government to ‘step forward and show real leadership’, as they said the ‘rapid spread of infections has placed India’s health system under unprecedented strain’.
In a letter to their counterparts, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the two Labour frontbenchers said the images coming from India were ‘truly haunting’.
They said the ‘tragedy of this situation will be felt particularly acutely here in the UK among the Indian diaspora, who will understandably be deeply concerned about family and friends’.
They said: ‘Given our deep links with India, the UK cannot remain on the sidelines.
‘This pandemic has been a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of our world and the impact events on the other side of the globe can have here in the UK.
‘Nowhere is safe until everywhere safe. The virus and its variants cannot be defeated by the individual efforts of nations alone.’
More than half of the UK’s total population has received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, figures show. NHS England data up to April 23 shows that of the 38,189,536 total doses given in England so far, 28,102,852 were first doses – a rise of 107,656 on the previous day
They called on the UK to show ‘leadership and forge agreements to remove barriers to vaccine distribution and supply’ and ‘extend the offer of British assistance to the Indian government’.
Ms Nandy and Mr Ashworth set out the critical areas in which British expertise, capacity and support could help, including:
- Supplies of liquid oxygen and canisters for people in hospital.
- Expertise in genome sequencing and epidemiology.
- Surplus therapeutic drugs and equipment.
- A commitment to share surplus doses of Covid-19 vaccine and support the Indian government in ramping up vaccine production and distribution to reach all parts of the country.
They said: ‘This virus does not respect national borders, and defeating it anywhere means defeating it everywhere.
‘We have already seen how quickly variants identified thousands of miles away have made it to British shores and limiting the spread of Covid-19 internationally is vital in safeguarding our own domestic security.
‘It is almost a year ago to the day that the Indian government, in response to the UK’s request for assistance, approved the export of almost three million packets of paracetamol to support our own fight against this virus.
‘Now is not the moment for the UK to shy away from our international obligations, but to step forward and show real leadership by assisting others in their time of need.’
