Fifteen more people die of coronavirus in UK hospitals in 24 hours – taking total deaths to 44,813

A further 15 people have died from coronavirus in the second weekend since pubs, bars and restaurants were able to open their doors to lockdown-weary revellers.

All 15 fatalities are in England, with no deaths in Scotland, Wales nor Northern Ireland, according to the preliminary figures.

This brings Britain’s total death toll to 44,813 – however this is likely to be much higher once care homes death numbers are released. 

Figures released on Sunday are usually smaller due to a delay in processing over the weekend.  

A further 15 people have died from coronavirus in the second weekend since pubs, bars and restaurants were able to open their doors to lockdown-weary revellers

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) issued a ‘go back and work if you can’ rallying cry on Friday in a bid to boost the economy

There are no new deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Wales, with the number remaining at 1,541, Public Health Wales said.

The total number of cases in Wales increased by 16 to 15,962.

No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland in the last 24 hours, according to the Scottish Government.

A total of 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, no change on Saturday’s figure.

It is the fourth day in a row without any fatalities.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has welcomed figures, and wrote on Twitter: ‘Another day y’day with no registered deaths of people who had tested positive for COVID-19.

Michael Gove told Sky news it is crucial to ‘fire up the economic engines’ again as the country emerges from lockdown

Current lockdown guidance states that people in the UK should avoid public transport where possible, resulting in empty carriages

‘New cases though – 12 more than yesterday. We can expect to see daily variation – but as on Friday, these are being closely examined. And it’s a reminder that the virus hasn’t gone away.’

The latest figures show that 18,359 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 19 from 18,340 the day before.

A total of six patients are in intensive care with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, no change on the previous day.

Yesterday, 148 Covid-19 deaths were reported in just 24 hours – more than double last Saturday – three weeks after shops were allowed to reopen in the first major easing of lockdown. 

The figure was over twice that of the 67 people who died from the virus last week and more than triple that of yesterday, bringing the total of deaths to 44,798. 

Today’s figures come as Michael Gove pleaded with Britons to go back to their offices amid fears of a looming jobs bloodbath on the high street.

The Cabinet minister insisted it is crucial to ‘fire up the economic engines’ again as the country emerges from lockdown.

The call came as the government prepares to relax restrictions on public transport in a bid to encourage the public out of their homes.

It is feared the collapse of the ‘lunchtime economy’ could deal another massive blow to the fortunes of the high street, with warnings that 250,000 jobs could be on the line  

Echoing a rallying cry from Boris Johnson on Friday, Mr Gove told Sky News today: ‘We want to see more people back at work on the shop floor in the office where they can be.’ 

A national survey has found just 12 per cent of people want life to return to the ‘old normal,’ while around 60 per cent still feel uncomfortable using public transport.

The UK Government is set to ease restrictions on public transport, such as buses, to encourage more people to go back into offices for work