Covid-19: Britain daily coronavirus cases drop by 24% in a week to 2,589

Coronavirus cases drop by 24% in a week to 2,589 while Britain’s death toll rises by 40 on last weekend before beer gardens reopen as lockdown is eased

  • Covid case numbers continue to fall 
  • Death toll was four times the number of last Saturday but figures were lower last week due to bank holiday 
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Britain’s coronavirus pandemic is continuing to shrink with cases falling by nearly a quarter, according to official figures and estimates. 

Department of Health bosses posted another 2,589 Covid cases today — down by 24.4 per cent on last week. 

Another 40 victims were added to the official death toll, four times as many as last Saturday’s figure, which was lower than normal because it was a bank holiday. 

The slight increase in deaths over the past couple of days is likely to be a blip because day-to-day counts can fluctuate and infections have fallen consistently over the past four months. 

And 557,014 more vaccines were dished out yesterday, taking Britain over the 32million mark for first doses — the number of people making up the entire top nine priority groups in the UK. More than 6.99million people have now had both jabs. 

In England, a total of 32,737,372 Covid-19 vaccinations took place between December 8 and April 9, according to NHS England data, including first and second doses, which is a rise of 466,480 on the previous day.

NHS England said 26,996,936 were the first dose of a vaccine, a rise of 62,274 on the previous day, while 5,740,436 were a second dose, an increase of 404,206.

It comes as Britain prepares to move onto the next stage of lockdown easing on Monday, when pub beer gardens, hair salons and gyms will reopen.

Department of Health bosses posted another 2,589 Covid cases today — down by 24.4 per cent on last week. Another 40 victims were added to the official death toll, four times as many as last Saturday's figure, which was lower than normal because it was a bank holiday

Department of Health bosses posted another 2,589 Covid cases today — down by 24.4 per cent on last week. Another 40 victims were added to the official death toll, four times as many as last Saturday’s figure, which was lower than normal because it was a bank holiday

But customers may be forced to wear face masks when they return to pubs, it was revealed today.

Government guidance states that masks must only be worn indoors and has not stipulated that pub goers must wear face masks when they are outside.

Yet according to the Daily Telegraph, pub landlords are being given contradictory instructions by councils who are insisting masks must be worn by customers unless they are eating or drinking.

The newspaper reports that councils have set up enforcement teams to patrol pubs for rule-breakers and that some publicans fear they may be fined.

A notice from Ribble Valley Borough Council, in Lancashire, said: ‘Face coverings must be worn by customers, except when seated to eat or drink.’ 

When questioned as to whether a mistake had been made by one landlady, the council reportedly insisted masks must be worn in beer gardens unless eating or drinking.

 Both industry bodies UK Hospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association said they were aware of ‘inconsistencies’ in some guidance being given to pub owners.

The government has said that customers do not have to wear masks when in beer gardens. Pictured: A member of staff in personal protective equipment after pubs reopened last July

The government has said that customers do not have to wear masks when in beer gardens. Pictured: A member of staff in personal protective equipment after pubs reopened last July

UK Hospitality chief executive Kate Nichols told the Telegraph: ‘We need local enforcement bodies to be working to support businesses to reopen rather than to be putting barriers in the way or creating confusion.’

Meanwhile, Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, added: ‘We’re aware of inconsistencies among councils and local authorities and we would ask to come to this in the spirit of trying to assist pubs opening safely rather than trying to look for errors or reasons to stymie their reopening.’

It comes as millions of Britons are expected to spend more than £300million next week when pub beer gardens and restaurant terraces open from Monday. 

The figures will provide cheer for a sector that has been ravaged by a year of lockdowns forced thousands of venues to close.

But the outpouring of spending is still less than the average £663million per week on eating and drinking out, according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR).