U.K. Reports Lowest Daily Coronavirus Death Toll Since April 6

(Bloomberg) -- A further 449 deaths from coronavirus were recorded in U.K. hospitals, the latest figures show, the lowest daily increase since April 6.

Some 4,676 new cases of the disease have been registered, down from 5,850 yesterday, according to figures from the Department of Health and Social Care. The rate of infection from the virus in the U.K. appears to be slowing, even as more people are tested each day, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries said on Sunday.

It is the second consecutive day the U.K. has reported a daily increase of less than 600 deaths, with the total on Sunday being 596.

On April 19, the U.K. carried out 19,316 tests for the disease, still significantly short of its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the goal on April 2 when the country was carrying out about 10,000 tests a day. The Health Department said on Monday that it has a capacity to carry out 36,000 tests a day.

The government is facing criticism over dwindling stocks of personal protective equipment and accusations of a lackluster response to the greater demand for ventilators. A shipment of some 400,000 gowns and other protective equipment was due to arrive from Turkey yesterday, but the consignment has been delayed, according to Sky News.

On Sunday, the government issued a rare rebuttal of articles from two British newspapers criticizing its slow response to the crisis. A thousand-word long response denied several assertions in an article in The Sunday Times that claimed U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to take the virus seriously in the early days, and was instead distracted by Brexit and personal issues.

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