UK coronavirus live: Hancock says contact tracing system in place 'in weeks' as death toll rises by 759

Today’s rise takes UK hospital death toll to 18,100, as health secretary says 15 social care staff are among those to die with Covid-19Starmer grills Raab over care home deathsPMQs verdict: a distinct improvement on what came beforePrivate firm running UK PPE stockpile was sold in middle of pandemicCoronavirus – latest global updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage 2.58pm BST The day after announcing limited prisoner release to ease pressure in Scotland’s jails, justice secretary Humza Yousaf has been challenged on emergency amendments that extend 24 hours a day detention and lift requirements for clean clothes.The head of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, Judith Robertson, and the Scottish prisons’ inspector, Wendy Sinclair, met Yousaf earlier today to raise significant human rights concerns about the amendments to prison rules.According to the new rules, prisoners who are self-isolating in their cells are there 24 hours a day, for up to 14 days, potentially more if they are sharing a cell with someone who becomes symptomatic. That 24-hours-a-day detention excludes exercise or use of telephone or shower. The amendments also lift the requirement to provide nutritious food and drink to meet religious needs or to provide clean socks and underwear daily and clean clothes as often as is necessary.We are particularly concerned that the guidance to governors does not include the statement that these changes should only be applied in extreme circumstances. 2.52pm BST The Department for Health and Social Care has just published the latest daily UK coronavirus hospital death figures. There have been 759 new deaths, taking the total to 18,100.The full details are here.As of 9am 22 April, 559,935 tests have concluded, with 22,814 tests on 21 April. 411,192 people have been tested of which 133,495 tested positive. As of 5pm on 21 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,100 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/gFFpwZe1gl Continue reading…
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