“As of 9am 24 April, 612,031 tests have concluded, with 28,532 tests on 23 April. 444,222 people have been tested of which 143,464 tested positive. As of 5pm on 23 April, of those hospitalized in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 19,506 have sadly died.,” the Department announced on its Twitter account on Friday.

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)