UK coronavirus death toll rises by 79 as total soars to 45,501

The UK coronavirus death toll has risen by 79 – taking the total to 45,501.

It comes after a further 11 people were confirmed to have died in hospital in the last 24 hours.

The latest figures account for deaths in all setting and are released ahead of legislation making the wearing of face coverings mandatory in English shops comes into force.

From Friday all but those with specific exemption will be required to cover their nose and mouth when shopping.

The government said population-wide use of masks could help keep the Covid-19 reproduction number (R rate) below one.

Official guidance also states: “If you are infected but have not yet developed symptoms, it may provide some protection for others you come into close contact with.”

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Enforcement will be carried out by police – not retail staff, and rules will be the same as those currently applicable on public transport in England. 

This means children under 11 and people with certain disabilities will be exempt.

Announcing the move, a Number 10 spokesperson said: “There is growing evidence that wearing a face covering in an enclosed space helps protect individuals and those around them from coronavirus. 

“The prime minister has been clear that people should be wearing face coverings in shops and we will make this mandatory from July 24.”

While Boris Johnson said he hoped the country could return to normal by Christmas, a SAGE expert has said the UK could be living with it “for decades”

Sir Jeremy Farrar rubbished the Prime Minister’s optimistic suggestion that the UK could see a “significant return” to normal life by the end of the year.

“Things will not be done by Christmas,” he told MPs.

“This infection is not going away. It’s now a human endemic infection and actually even if we have a vaccine, or very good treatments, humanity will still be living with this virus for very many years to come.”

Sir Jeremy, director of the Wellcome Trust, told MPs the UK needed to “keep the urgency” but added: “We need to move now to a consistent long term approach to this because humanity will be living with this infection for decades to come.”