It brings the total number of positive covid-19 cases recorded in Britain to 143,464 – up from 138,078 yesterday.

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The Department of Health (D.O.H) confirmed today that of those who have tested positive, 19,506 coronavirus patients have died in hospitals across the UK.

The number of confirmed covid-19 cases is largely determined by the number of tests carried out.

In a statement, the D.O.H said: "As of 9am on 24 April, 612,031 tests have concluded, with 28,532 tests carried out on 23 April.

"444,222 people have been tested, of whom 143,464 have tested positive."

Today's rise in positive cases is the highest daily rise recorded in the last five days.

It is also the first time the death rate has exceeded 5,000 this week.

It is, however, the lowest daily figure logged on a Friday for the third week in a row.

It comes as:

• Health secretary says it's still too early too lift lockdown
• New home tests for key workers run out in minutes
• Hairdressers set to stay shut for another six months
• First UK volunteers injected with coronavirus vaccine trial
• Black coronavirus patients are dying at almost twice the rate of white patients
• Companies re-opening were "never required to close"

DAILY RISE

Today, 738 more deaths were announced – a higher rise than yesterday's (638).

It is the lowest death rate, however, recorded on a Friday for the third week in a row.

The number of deaths recorded between Monday and Friday this week is also down 13% on figures recorded over the same period the week before.

In England, 17,373 people have died after 587 more deaths were announced today – including 34 healthy people.

The rise is higher than it was yesterday, but is the lowest death rate recorded in England on a Friday so far this month.

In Scotland, 1,184 patients have now died from the killer bug – up by 64 since yesterday.

Nicola Sturgeon also announced today that 9,697 Scots have also tested positive for the virus.

In Wales, 751 have died after 110 more covid-19 deaths were announced today.

It is a far greater rise than was announced in Wales yesterday, which Public Health Wales explained is down to 84 retrospective deaths from March and April.

TESTING TIMES

In a bid to slow the spread, Health secretary Matt Hancock last night promised 7million key workers and their families coronavirus tests at home.

A daily allowance of 1,000 kits – including swabs and instructions – were made available to Brits without a car from today, but were snapped up within minutes.

It comes as frontline workers continue to fight the virus with a lack of personal protective equipment.

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We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.

We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.

A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”

SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”

We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.

Two NHS doctors, Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi, are suing the government over the lack of PPE.

Dr Viz said the guidelines across the country are different and keep changing, putting healthcare worker's lives at risk.

This morning, health secretary Matt Hancock warned it is still “too soon” to end the UK lockdown, despite the drop in death rate reported yesterday.

Appearing on Sky News, he said: "The truth is, it's still too soon, safely, to change those measures.

"Although the number of people who died yesterday was lower, it was still over 600, so it's still too high.

"I just urge people to continue sticking to those rules, because it's working and we're flattening that curve but we need to see it coming down."

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