UK coronavirus death toll passes 40,000, official figures say; Health secretary dodges questions over people’s legal right to refuse return to work; further lockdowns inevitable without stronger plan, scientists warn
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4.01pm BST
Grant Shapps said TfL will only be able to take 15% of usual commuter levels if 100% of services are running and urged everybody to look for “alternative means of transport”.
The Tory MP and former transport minister Stephen Hammond said many Londoners who need to get to work will still need to use the tube and rail network. He asked the transport secretary:
Can I ask what discussions he’s had with the Mayor of London and with Network Rail about how quickly the London transport system can be returned to full working so that the most social distancing is possible, and also the possibility of introducing temperature scanning at London termini?
I have spoken to, communicated with the Mayor and his Deputy Mayor over the weekend. I am encouraging them and working very closely with TfL to boost those services just as quickly as they can and there’s more to go there.
It is worth reiterating, even if those services ran at 100% of pre-Covid levels we would still only be able to take perhaps on the TfL 15% of existing, usual commuter levels – so it is important that everybody looks for alternative means of transport.
3.55pm BST
A further 627 people have died in the UK across all settings, up from 32,065 yesterday, the DHSC said.
As of 9am 12 May, there have been 2,007,146 tests, with 85,293 tests on 11 May.
1,460,517 people have been tested of which 226,463 tested positive.
As of 5pm on 11 May, of those tested positive for coronavirus, across all settings, 32,692 have sadly died. pic.twitter.com/NMiQRpH7hP
Related: UK coronavirus death toll passes 40,000, official figures say