Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the government’s latest warning about the spread of the coronavirus and its impact on the NHS, said:

“The rising fatality rate is a sobering reminder that we must all take the social distancing measures seriously and adjust our behaviour. The public also needs clear guidance and direction from the government, so people fully understand how vital these measures now are.

“Our NHS is coming under the most intense pressure. We need urgent action to scale up intensive care bed capacity, more community testing with NHS and care staff a priority, the deployment of more protective equipment and an expansion of ventilators.”