UK coronavirus daily death toll soars to 953

The UK coronavirus death toll has sharply risen by 953 to 8,931 according to figures released on Friday.

England recorded 866 coronavirus patient deaths and another 87 across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The patients were aged between 27 and 100-years old, and 56 of the patients who died had no known underlying health conditions.

Over the next two weeks, scientists said the death toll will continue to rise due to a lag in how the reporting of fatalities are being announced.

Police have warned on Friday that they will stop people from having BBQs in parks, beaches and other public areas.

Even if members from their own household are out and applying social distancing measures this will not be allowed.

John Apter, national chair of the police federation of England and Wales said on Friday the “vast majority” of people are following the law.

However, he said there are a minority that are either “genuinely confused by the guidance or they’re completely oblivious to the dangers.”

In a warning to the public he said if people were allowed to sit down and have barbecues in parks or other public spaces that it would be like “any other normal bank holiday weekend where the parks are packed full of people wanting to enjoy the sunshine.”

On Thursday, the Metropolitan Police were caught flouting the lockdown rules as they were congregating drinking coffee whilst many people were gathered together, sitting on benches enjoying the sun.

The police were recorded of hanging around in Battersea Square, South West London on Thursday lunchtime, with people flouting the lockdown rules just meters away.

Some people were shaking hands and were quite clearly from other households, two elderly men were seen together, with leaning on a man’s shoulder.