621 patients died with UK deaths almost reaching 5,000

The Department for Health announced on Sunday that a further 621 patients have died across the UK, bringing the total to 4,934.

The department said, “As of 9am 5 April, a total of 195,524 people have been tested of which 47,806 tested positive.” This is a rise of 5,903 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in 24 hours.

Public Health England (PHE) reported 555 deaths in England, whilst Public Health Wales recorded 12 in Wales and the Public Health Agency said, there had been seven more cases in Northern Ireland.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said, authorities had recorded an additional two deaths, but stressed the number was based on a new way of counting deaths.

The Health Secretary said on Sunday speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, he does “not want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home.”

Matt Hancock said if people continue to break the law and do not follow the rules, then the government “might have to take further action.”

Hancock said, “We’ve said it’s okay to get some exercise, I don’t want to have to take away exercise as a reason to leave home if too many people are not following the rules.

“Let’s not have a minority spoiling it for everybody.”

Hancock said that “nobody should be going out to sunbathe in public spaces.”