INTERNATIONAL - LONDON REPORTS NO CORONAVIRUS-RELATED DEATHS IN 24 HOURS

There were no reported deaths in London, the South East and South West of England.

It's the first time since early in the pandemic that no Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in the capital - which has been about two or three weeks ahead of the rest of the country.

NHS England said a "small number of people" had died in the city but that these would be "announced in coming days".

The latest NHS figures today show there were seven deaths in the South East and two in the South West - but they were happened last week and were included in today's figures.

There is usually a lag in data over the weekend, when fewer deaths are officially registered - which is why the figures are usually lower on Sunday and Mondays.

They usually then tend to rise later in the week - meaning it is likely the number will be higher tomorrow.

It comes as the UK had its lowest rise in coronavirus deaths since before lockdown after 59 more people died today - bringing the total to 40,597.

The number is also fewer than 100 for the second day running, the Department of Health confirmed.

Positive cases in the UK have only risen by 1,205 to 287,399 - again the lowest since Boris Johnson imposed the restrictions.

Today's daily death figure of 59 is the lowest since the day before lockdown began on March 23, when the number was 35.

Glimmer of hope

It brings fresh hope to many in the capital, which has seen 6,026 coronavirus-related deaths.

Previous NHS data had revealed that there had been a death attributable to Covid-19 in London every day since 10 March.

And at its peak there were more than 1,000 patients a day fighting for their lives in London's ICUs.

Pedestrians pass the heavy traffic as they walk over Tower Bridge in London

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Pedestrians pass the heavy traffic as they walk over Tower Bridge in LondonCredit: PA:Press Association

Now that number has dropped by about two thirds and on June 1, St Thomas' Hospital reported no Covid-19 related deaths in a 48-hour period.

New evidence suggests that many hospitals in London have no Covid-19 patients left in ICU or only a handful.

Even major teaching hospitals – a the centre of the fight to save lives - have few patients remaining.

We know that we can’t declare victory and that no one must be complacent, but we have come through a storm and coped with what’s been thrown at us

Director Of ICU

The director of one ICU unit, who did not want to be named, said: “We’ve had no Covid patients for a couple of weeks and I was able to take a couple of weeks off.

"We have more than 150 survivors and we will start checking up on them in out-patient clinics from next week.

“We know that we can’t declare victory and that no one must be complacent, but we have come through a storm and coped with what’s been thrown at us.”

via - THESUN