UK records 151 new Covid deaths in hospitals – just 14 more than last Sunday – taking the total death toll to 49,039
- Health bosses announce 151 have died in hospital from Covid-19 in daily figures
- England reported 122 deaths at the end of its first weekend of second lockdown
- Wales has 744 new infections, while Scotland has declared more than 1,100
- Conservative MPs warn Boris Johnson he faces a revolt if he extends lockdown
The UK has recorded 151 new deaths from Covid-19 in its daily figures – a rise of 14 compared to last Sunday – as the total death toll now sits at 49,039.
England recorded 122 deaths today, while Scotland announced three, while also reporting 1,115 new cases.
In Wales, 19 new deaths were reported, along with 744 new cases, as it prepares to leave its ‘firebreak’ lockdown tomorrow. Seven deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland.
Today’s figure come on the fourth day of England’s national lockdown, with Tory MPs warning Boris Johnson he will face a ‘massive revolt’ if he tries to extend it beyond December 2.
Measures were brought in following grim predictions that deaths could rise to 1,000 a day by December, but weekly figures have seen a rise of just 14 compared to last Sunday, when 137 deaths were recorded.
Mr Johnson has insisted it is the ‘plan’ for the England-wide curbs to come to an end at the start of next month.
Boris Johnson is facing a growing Tory revolt over the Government’s national coronavirus lockdown
But his failure to give a cast iron guarantee has spooked many Conservative MPs who believe the ‘public will not accept’ an extension of the draconian measures.
It came as Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab denied the Government had used the ‘scariest’ data possible to try to justify the national shutdown.
A slide used at Mr Johnson’s lockdown press conference last Saturday suggested there could be up to 4,000 daily deaths by next month without further action but that number and other projections were subsequently revised down.
Mr Raab insisted this morning the Government is trying to be ‘as transparent as possible’ and that when ‘mistakes’ are made or facts change then ministers respond accordingly.
Mr Raab also said ministers ‘want to get through to December 2’ and then ‘transition back to a localised approach’.
The Prime Minister’s latest lockdown, which came into effect from Thursday, sailed through the House of Commons last week by 516 votes to 38 as some 34 Tories rebelled.
Conservative backbenchers now believe that more than 80 Tories are likely to revolt if Mr Johnson does try to keep the restrictions in place.
The regulations which underpin the new lockdown will expire on December 2 and MPs will be given a vote on what happens next.
There are fears that if infection rates are still high then the PM could be forced into trying to extend the lockdown.
The Government is facing a growing Tory backlash over its handling of the coronavirus response with MPs particularly angry at the data used by Downing Street to justify the shutdown.
One key slide projected daily deaths could hit 1,500 by December but that was subsequently revised down to a peak of 1,000 daily deaths.
Mr Raab was asked this morning by Sophy Ridge on Sky News whether the Government was showing the nation the ‘scariest’ data possible so that people would accept there is a need for the restrictions.
He replied: ‘No, look, we show models which show what could happen if certain scenarios play out.
‘We have corrected the slide you referred to and the wealth of scientific information that comes forward, we are trying to be as transparent as possible.’