The UK’s coronavirus death toll has leapt to 281 – with NHS workers identifying a further 600 COVID-19 victims in the last 24 hours alone.
The grim rise came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces growing pressure to give NHS staff on the frontline protective equipment in order to tackle the virus head-on.
An estimated 1.4million people who are most 'at risk' from coronavirus will be ordered to stop all social contact from Monday.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday that the very most vulnerable will be told to carry out social distancing measures in place for 12 weeks from Monday.