“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 hospitalized in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,100 have sadly died,” the Department announced on its website on Wednesday.

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)