TWO more people have died of coronavirus in Dorset.

One death was recorded at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester and one by the Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust.

The Department of Health said the number of coronavirus-related hospital deaths stood at 4,313 as of 5pm on Friday, up from 3,605 the day before.

The DoH figures also showed that the number of new people tested daily in the UK has slipped back below 10,000. A total of 9,406 new people were reported as being tested in the 24 hours to 9am April 4.

For the previous two days, the equivalent figure was above 10,000. The total number of people in the UK tested since the outbreak began is now 183,190. The number of confirmed cases had reached 41,903 as of 9am on Saturday.

The coronavirus infection rate will remain high for "weeks and weeks" if people flout social distancing rules this weekend, a scientist advising the Government has warned.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, spoke as latest figures showed the recorded death toll from the virus in the UK has risen above 4,000.

Prof Ferguson said earlier that while the epidemic was expected to plateau in the next week to 10 days, people's behaviour was critical to determining what happens next.

His warning followed similar pleas by Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock for people to stick with the social distancing measures and resist the temptation to enjoy the sunshine forecast for swathes of the UK on Saturday and Sunday.