UK government claims country is seeing lowest rates of new coronavirus infections and deaths since late March.

UK health secretary Matt Hancock has called on everybody to make sure they get tested if they experience Covid-19 symptoms as the UK’s testing capacity is currently outstripping demand.

Yesterday saw the lowest number of new cases recorded since March 25, according to Mr Hancock.

With all the governments of the UK running test and trace programmes in a bid to move out of lockdown, he said supply is currently outstripping demand when it comes to tests.

At today's Downing Street breifing he said: “If there is one message that we have today it is that it is incredibly important for anybody who has symptoms of coronavirus – a cough or a fever or a change in your sense of taste or smell – that you get a test.

“On testing capacity and new cases, there were 120,437 tests in the UK, meaning that there's been a total of 4.48 million tests that have been carried out since the start of this crisis.

“Testing capacity stands at a higher level. Testing capacity stands at 206,444 and this shows that there is a capacity for more tests, and tests are available right now.

A total of 39,045 people have now died of Covid-19 in the UK with another 111 deaths recorded since yeserday, but Me Hancock said that was the lowest figure since lockdown began.

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