“As of 9am 23 April, 583,496 tests have concluded, with 23,560 tests on 22 April. 425,821 people have been tested of which 138,078 tested positive. As of 5pm on 22 April, of those hospitalized in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,738 have sadly died,” the Department announced on its website on Thursday.

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)