Coronavirus news live: UK death toll reaches 40,597 and lockdown ‘prevented nearly half a million deaths in the UK’

The coronavirus death toll in the UK is falling as some aspects of normal life slowly resume (Picture: Getty Images)

The UK’s daily death toll from coronavirus fell to its lowest daily toll on Monday since lockdown began, with another 55 people having died after testing positive.

For the second consecutive day, no deaths were reported in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, researchers have said that Britain’s coronavirus lockdown prevented almost half a million deaths warning that precautions are ‘necessary’ to prevent a second wave of coronavirus.

The researchers from Imperial College London forecasted that from the start of the pandemic up until May 4 there would be 29,000 deaths in the UK – with the actual figure turning out to be 28,374.

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Here, we bring you the live updates on the latest news, developments and guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic.