Another 174 people have died after coronavirus diagnoses in the UK as the number of confirmed cases continues to shoot up.
The Government said that, as of 9am on Saturday, there had been a further 23,012 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK. It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 854,010.
A total 141 new deaths were recorded in England, 16 in Wales, 11 in Scotland, and six in Northern Ireland, bringing the UK total to 44,745.
It comes as a top scientist warned the NHS will be unable to cope if cases continue to increase at the present rate.
According to the government’s coronavirus dashboard, 7,850 patients are currently being treated in hospital, with 743 in ventilator beds.