Sadiq Khan urges Londoners not to relax 'monumental effort' to beat coronavirus over Bank Holiday weekend

The Mayor pleaded with people not to be tempted into breaching social distancing rules
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Mayor Sadiq Khan today made an urgent appeal to Londoners not to relax their “monumental effort” to beat coronavirus as the death toll in the capital’s hospitals rose to 5,414.

With the capital set to bake in 24 degrees of sunshine over a three-day break, the Mayor pleaded with people not to be tempted into breaching social distancing rules.

“I want to make a direct appeal to Londoners as we start the bank holiday weekend,” he said. “We’ve all made monumental efforts to follow the rules and stay at home over the last few weeks, and it is essential this continues over the coming days.

“Despite the warm weather our priority first and foremost must still be the welfare of our loved ones and our key workers.

“Londoners have shown that they want to do everything they can to slow the spread of this virus, and we must all continue to follow the clear rules put in place to save lives.”

The Greater London Authority announced this afternoon that a further 132 deaths of people who tested positive for COVID-19 had been identified in hospitals in the Greater London area, plus 12 cases where Covid-19 was given as a direct or underlying cause of death.

The figure included 94 cases dating back to March 24 that had previously been missed out, following a crosscheck of previous records by Barts Health Trust.

Downing Street this afternoon said the ban on sunbathing in parks must continue this weekend despite reports that it will shortly be relaxed.

The Cabinet met earlier to review the six-week long lockdown amid expectations that it will formally be extended for another three weeks. Boris Johnson is due to unveil a gradual exit strategy from lockdown on Sunday along with a modest “easement” of the rules to come in from Monday.

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