The UK’s coronavirus hospital death toll has increased by 39 – the lowest rise on a Saturday since the lockdown began in late March.
England reported 38 new deaths and Wales had one as Britain’s hospital toll climbed to 33,636.
Scotland reported no fatalities for the third consecutive day. Northern Ireland, which last reported a death on July 4, had not yet updated its totals.
On recent Saturdays, the death toll increased by 44 on July 4, 84 on June 27, 75 on June 20 and 80 on June 13. The biggest rise on a Saturday was 917 on April 11, when the UK was in the deadliest days of its outbreak.
The latest figures were announced amid pleas for Britons to behave themselves a week after punters brawled and and huge crowds ignored social distancing rules as pubs and bars reopened in England.
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England’s lockdown was relaxed even further on Saturday as lidos and outdoor theatres were allowed to reopen and grassroots sport were given the green light to resume.
Saturday saw the reopening of tourism across Wales as self-contained accommodation providers were able to open cottages, bed and breakfasts and caravans for the first time since March.
NHS England reported 38 new hospital deaths on Saturday, taking its total to 29,051.
The victims were aged between 40 and 98. Three patients, aged 65 to 86 years, had no known underlying health conditions.
Another seven deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
Public Health Wales announced one new death. Its toll now stands at 1,541.
It also confirmed seven new cases, bringing the total in Wales to 15,946.
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours, according to the Scottish Government.
A total of 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, no change on Friday’s figure.
The latest figures show that 18,340 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by seven from 18,333 the day before.
A total of six patients are in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a fall of six on the previous day.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed figures showing there were no Covid-19 deaths in Scotland in the last 24 hours.
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On Twitter, she wrote: “Positive cases in past 24 hrs back in single figures (7) after yesterday’s increase
“Also, another day with no registered deaths amongst people who had tested positive.
“Progress still good – but with significant easing of lockdown next week, we all must take care £StaySafe.”
Northern Ireland’s death toll of 554 was unchanged.
The government’s official total of 44,650 fatalities in all settings, including care homes, will be updated later.
In other developments:
– MPs have called on the government to clarify its position on face coverings after Boris Johnson, while wearing a mask at an Uxbridge shop on Friday, hinted they could become mandatory in stores in England.
– Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised nearly £33 million for the NHS, has become the first member of the Lionhearts squad of inspirational heroes, receiving a personal visit from former England footballer David Beckham.
– Belgium’s government has told its citizens not to travel to Leicester while the city is under a local lockdown due to a spike in Covid-19 infections.
– British tourists can expect to experience “90% of normality” as flights and holidays restart for TUI, the UK’s biggest tour operator.
– Portugal’s government will make “no attempt” to hide its disappointment at being left off a list of countries where travellers can avoid having to quarantine when arriving in England, the country’s ambassador to the UK said.
