Health chiefs today announced 115 more coronavirus deaths across the UK, as beaches and parks were swamped with thousands of Brits taking advantage of the scorching weather on the first day of lockdown being eased.
Department of Health bosses have yet to release the official Covid-19 tally, which is often higher. The preliminary toll is calculated by adding up all of the individual updates provided by each of the home nations.
NHS England recorded 108 more patients had died in hospitals. Wales posted five new deaths across all settings, while Scotland and Northern Ireland registered one each – taking the official number of victims to 38,604.
The UK yesterday announced 113 more Covid-19 deaths, the lowest since lockdown began on March 23 – when 74 deaths were registered.
But officials warn that death numbers released on Sundays and Mondays are usually significantly smaller due to a delay in processing fatalities over the weekend.
In other developments to Britain’s coronavirus crisis today:
- Some of the 2million pupils returning to primary school were turned away because headteachers ‘weren’t ready’ for them;
- Britons were allowed to meet their friends for socially distant fun and games for the first time since March 23, with the easing of lockdown rules;
- Number 10 admitted the coronavirus alert level has still not been lowered, despite lockdown rules being eased in England;
- IKEA shoppers at one store formed a giant three hour queue as the DIY furniture giant reopened 19 furniture sites across England;
- NHS Covid-19 contact tracers said the system is ‘obviously not ready’ and admitted they have nothing to do all day – despite being paid up to £27-an-hour;
- The Government’s plan to allow more than 2million vulnerable people outside lacks any scientific rationale and amounts to a PR stunt, an expert warned.
It comes as up to two million pupils were due to return to primary school today. But it was revealed this morning that some were turned away because headteachers ‘weren’t ready’ for them.
Up to 1,500 primary schools in England are estimated to be defying the Government’s controversial plan to get all reception, year 1 and year 6 children back in the classroom from June 1.
Teachers have admitted they were ‘anxious’ to work and unions demanded the date be pushed back to June 15 at the earliest, amid fears the virus is still spreading at high levels.
Parents have revealed many schools will remain closed for at least another week or more, while some have not yet set a date at all.
At least two dozen councils have refused to reopen their schools or left it up to headteachers, who are trying to find ways to ensure social distancing and have enough teachers to teach ‘bubbles’ of up to ten children.
MailOnline revealed there was confusion at several schools across London, with some parents arriving with their children only to be informed they couldn’t come in and had to go home again.
In other developments, ministers are desperately trying to quell a backlash over easing lockdown today despite the coronavirus alert level not having been reduced.
With beaches and parks again swamped as people take advantage of scorching weather, Business Secretary Alok Sharma was forced to deny there is a ‘dash’ to get the country back up and running.
He insisted the new contact tracing system means measures can be tightened again in specific areas if there is a flare up.
But Downing Street was forced to admit the alert level has still not been reduced from level four to three, even though the guidance suggested easing of lockdown is not possible until it was reduced.
Tories and top scientists have voiced alarm about the consequences of the tweaks in England – which include six people from different households being able to meet up in public places or gardens.
There are concerns it will be impossible to put the ‘genie back in the bottle’ if cases increase, with one MP telling MailOnline the government had gone from ‘baby steps to giant steps’ with nothing in between.
The Government has frantically urged Britons to act ‘sensibly’ as they enjoy a host of new freedoms, following crowded scenes across the country yesterday before the overhaul officially came into force.
People fill up the beach at Westbay in Dorset today as they take advantage of relaxation of the lockdown rules
Children in Year 1 have their own desks in the modern Harris Academy Primary School in south London. Many headteachers with older schools say they don’t have the space
Essex: People queuing today at the Ikea store in Lakeside, Thurrock, which has reopened as part of a wider easing of lockdown restrictions in England
It came as Ikea stores across Britain today were seeing giant queues form outside, with customers forming three-hour queues as lockdown restrictions were eased.
The car park at Ikea in Wembley, north London, which was until recently a coronavirus test centre, was full of cars this morning as the store opened for business for the first time since the lockdown was imposed.
Aerial photos show hundreds of customers queuing around the block in the stifling heat to get into the shops in Nottingham, Reading and Essex, as the Government urged the country to act ‘sensibly’ amid restrictions being eased.
Massive lines of people could also be seen snaking around the car parks at the Swedish furniture giant’s branches in Wednesbury, West Midlands.
Some eager shoppers had been queuing from as early as 5.30am – over four hours before the store was due to open at 10am today.
Huge traffic jams were also reported in and around the areas as people flocked to their local branch following Boris Johnson’s further easing of lockdown restrictions.