THE government extended the coronavirus lockdown yesterday for at least three more weeks.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab made the announcement during the daily Covid-19 press conference at Downing Street following Cobra and Cabinet meetings on continuing social-distancing rules.

Mr Raab, who is de facto Prime Minister while Boris Johnson recovers from Covid-19, warned that relaxing the rules imposed since March 23 could cause a “second peak” in case numbers and risk “substantially” more deaths.

Before restrictions could be lifted, hospital admissions, infection and death rates would need to fall consistently and testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) availability would need to be more widespread, he said.

Labour had said that it would support an extension, while also calling for an “exit strategy” for the lockdown.

The Department for Health reported yesterday that there had been 861 more coronavirus deaths recorded in UK hospitals in the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 13,729, including 27 NHS staff.

Demands for adequate provision of PPE for NHS workers intensified after pregnant nurse Mary Agyeiwaa Agyapong – also known by her married surname Boateng – died on Sunday. Her baby daughter was delivered by caesarean section and survived.