Matt Hancock has announced the number of people in the UK who have died after testing positive for coronavirus is 39,045.
In today's government press briefing, the health secretary said there had been a further 111 deaths in the last 24 hours, however he failed to mention the additional 445 deaths that had previously not been included in the daily figures.
Therefore, there has actually been an increase of 556 deaths to the UK death toll from yesterday's figure of 38,489, although the government is reporting the day-on-day change as 111.
On June 1, the cumulative totals for deaths in the UK have been revised to include historic data.
These 445 extra deaths in England relate to the period between April 24 and May 31.
These additional deaths are linked to cases that have been identified through testing that has been carried out by commercial partners, rather than testing that has been done in NHS and Public Health England laboratories.
Instead of including these 445 deaths in today's increase, the Department of Health has incorporated them within the previous cumulative total.
Mr Hancock told the daily Downing Street press conference: “The data show that we are winning the battle against coronavirus.
“Today we are therefore able to make some cautious changes to the lockdown rules, carefully and safely.”
But he warned that “the disease is not done yet”.
“We must all remember that in the war against this virus we are all on the same side. We have come so far together, we can take these steps together.
“But do not step too far, the disease is not done yet.
“We mustn’t throw away the progress that has been made.”
