“As of 9am 21 April, 535,342 tests have concluded, with 18,206 tests on 20 April. 397,670 people have been tested of which 129,044 tested positive. As of 5pm on 20 April, of those hospitalized in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 17,337 have sadly died.,” the Department announced on its website on Tuesday.

Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) spread to the United Kingdom in January. Transmission within the UK was confirmed in February, leading to an epidemic with a rapid increase in cases in March.

The U.K. closed all schools except for children of key workers and vulnerable children. And all restaurants, pubs, clubs and indoor sport and leisure facilities were ordered to close, though delivery and take-out chains were allowed to remain open. (ILKHA)