The UK is recording the largest number of new coronavirus cases in Europe and the rate at which they are soaring is 'frightening' other EU states, Austria's health minister said yesterday.

Rudi Anschober highlighted the rapid growth in UK cases at a press conference in Vienna where he hailed Austria's own success in slowing the outbreak.

The minister held up a chart showing the average daily growth in infections over the last 10 days, on which Austria performed best and Britain worst.

'That's what's frightening a lot of people on a European level at the moment, that's the figure in Britain of 7.5 per cent,' he said, pointing to the UK column.

The equivalent figure for Austria was 1.8 per cent, according to the minister's graph.

The figures were 5.7 per cent in Sweden, 3.7 per cent in France, 3.2 per cent in Spain, 3.0 per cent in Germany, 2.5 per cent in Italy and 2.2 per cent in Switzerland, his figures showed.

Several countries are seeing a slowing down in the spread of coronavirus after half the population of the world found themselves under lockdown.

Previous hotspots like Italy and Spain are seeing new infections start to decline, but Dr Hans Kluge, World Health Organisation director for Europe, said the 'optimistic signs' of the virus receding on some parts of the continent were being cancelled out by bad news elsewhere.

He pointed to the United Kingdom, along with the likes of Belarus and Russia, as reason to believe that Europe is still 'in the eye of the COVID-19 storm'.

Austrian Health Minister Rudolf Anschober highlighted the rapid growth in UK cases at a press conference today where he hailed Austria's own success in slowing the outbreak

The figures were 5.7 per cent in Sweden, 3.7 per cent in France, 3.2 per cent in Spain, 3.0 per cent in Germany, 2.5 per cent in Italy and 2.2 per cent in Switzerland, his figures showed

'Of the 10 countries in the region with the highest numbers of cases, there have been optimistic signs in terms of the climbing numbers in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland in recent weeks.

The UK is among a handful of countries singled out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for having 'tempered' positive signs that Europe is passing the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Dr Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said while there have been 'optimistic signs' in countries worst affected by coronavirus, others such as the UK demonstrate 'sustained or increased levels of incidents'.

He was speaking on a day that:

Lockdown in the UK was expended for 'at least' three more weeks

The UK has announced 861 more deaths from coronavirus, taking the total number of victims to 13,729;

A poll for MailOnline has suggested the public is not ready for the lockdown to end, with 80 per cent said they would not have felt safe returning to normal life at the moment;

A report sent to ministers has suggested coffee shops, restaurants and estate agents should be among the first to reopen on Britain's high streets, as they are the businesses most likely to boost the economy and pose the smallest risk of spreading the virus;

There are claims that the population could be 'segmented' to ease restrictions with young people allowed to go back to work and primary schools opened, while pensioners and the vulnerable are ordered to stay in isolation;

One of the government's own key experts, Professor Neil Ferguson, has warned curbs cannot be eased until mass testing is in place and criticised the government's slow action;

World Health Organisation director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, said the UK, along with Russia and Belarus, is one of the reasons the continent is 'still in the eye of the storm' of the coronavirus crisis;

The first newly-adapted ventilator design has been approved by regulators, with the government ordering 15,000 of the Penlon's Prima ES202 model;

Matt Hancock has rejected calls for ministers to take a pay cut in solidarity with hard-hit workers, after counterparts in New Zealand announced they would;

Mr Hancock insisted the government could hit its 100,000 a day testing target by the end of the month, despite questions over why it is still not using the current capacity of 25,000.

The latest figures from the Department of Health show 13,729 patients had died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday - an increase of 861 on the previous day - with the UK braced for an extension of lockdown.

The UK is among a handful of countries singled out by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for having 'tempered' positive signs that Europe is passing the peak of the Covid-19 outbreak

A graph showing the number of new infections in various countries, starting on the day they first recorded five infections. The graph shows a rolling average, meaning it shows trends in the data rather than exact figures. The Y-axis is scaled due to the large difference in numbers between worst-hit countries such as USA and Britain, and countries which were less badly hit, such as Australia and South Korea. In an evenly-scaled graph, the worst-hit countries' readings would show a much steeper curve

During the weekly WHO Europe briefing on Thursday morning, Dr Kluge described how 'the storm cloud' of Covid-19 'still hangs heavily over the European region'.

The UK was one of a handful of countries he singled out for providing an antidote to optimism elsewhere among the 53 members in the WHO's European region.

He said: 'Of the 10 countries in the region with the highest numbers of cases, there have been optimistic signs in terms of the climbing numbers in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland in recent weeks.

'But small positive signals in some countries are tempered by sustained or increased levels of incidents in other countries, including in the UK, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.'

The UK was one of a handful of countries he singled out for providing an antidote to optimism elsewhere among the 53 members in the WHO's European region.

Dr Kluge said the number of positive coronavirus cases reported in Europe 'nearly doubled in 10 days' to nearly one million, accounting for around half of all cases reported worldwide.

Dominic Raab claims international data does not support WHO criticism of UK At the press conference on Thursday Mr Raab was asked about the World Health Organisation's assessment of the UK in battling the deadly pandemic by Metro journalist Dominic Yeatman. He responded: 'I don't think the data internationally, and Patrick talked through some of it which shows the international comparisons, would bear that out. 'But I haven't heard and seen the direct comments so I'll pass judgement on that for now.' Advertisement

Some of the worst-hit countries in Europe, including Spain and Italy, have announced a slight relaxation of some lockdown measures, including partial returns to work.

He added: 'The next few weeks will be critical for Europe.

'Make no mistake - despite the spring weather, we are in the middle of a storm.'

Current figures show the coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 2 million people worldwide, with more than 137,000 deaths recorded.

The US has recorded more than 30,000 deaths - the most in the world - and over 600,000 confirmed infections, according to a Johns Hopkins University count.

It came as foreign leaders rushed to the defence of the WHO after president Donald Trump again vowed to halt US payments to the agency over allegations it has not sounded the alarm sooner over the virus.

The WHO said the US contribution represented around 15% of its budget and called on the president to re-think.

Graphs show coronavirus infections 'flattening' for countries coming out of pandemic 'peak' - but the WHO warns Britain's numbers are a black mark among Europe's 'positive signs'

by Chris Pleasance for MailOnline

The spread of coronavirus appears to be slowing down or leveling off in countries around the world after half the world's population found itself under lockdown orders.

Graphs charting the number of daily infections in countries such as the US reveal how dramatic increases throughout March have now begun to stabilise.

Meanwhile previous hotspots such as Italy and Spain have seen new infections begin to tumble - a month after nationwide lockdown measures were first put into place.

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO director for Europe, said there were 'optimistic signs' that the virus has begun to recede on some parts of the continent - but they were being cancelled out by bad news elsewhere.

He singled out the UK, along with the likes of Belarus and Russia, as reason to believe that Europe is still 'in the eye of the COVID-19 storm'.

'Of the 10 countries in the region with the highest numbers of cases, there have been optimistic signs in terms of the climbing numbers in Spain, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland in recent weeks.

'But small positive signals in some countries are tempered by sustained or increased levels of incidents in other countries, including in the UK, Turkey, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.'

Today the UK reported 4,618 new cases and 861 more deaths, both slightly higher than yesterday, taking Britain's infection total past 100,000. The latest figures are 103,093 cases and 13,729 deaths.

'The next few weeks will be critical for Europe,' Kluge said. 'Make no mistake - despite the spring weather, we are in the middle of a storm.'

Underlining his point is the fact that daily death tolls have continued to rise in many places even as new infections fall, due to the time it takes an infected person to become sick enough to die.

Here, MailOnline graphs reveal how the surge in coronavirus cases has begun to slow down:

GLOBAL

A graph showing the number of new infections in various countries, starting on the day they first recorded five infections. The graph shows a rolling average, meaning it shows trends in the data rather than exact figures. The Y-axis is scaled due to the large difference in numbers between worst-hit countries such as USA and Britain, and countries which were less badly hit, such as Australia and South Korea. In an evenly-scaled graph, the worst-hit countries' readings would show a much steeper curve

USA

A graph showing the total number of new coronavirus cases confirmed each day in the US. After three weeks of continual rises, the number of new cases reported each day has stabilised over the past 10 days

A graph showing the total number of deaths from coronavirus reported each day in the US. The number has kept peaking even as new infections have stabilised, because of the time it takes for a newly infected person to get sick enough to die

NEW YORK

A graph showing the number of people ending up in hospital in New York state each day, the worst-affected of the American states. Governor Andrew Cuomo has begun discussing how to reopen the state after the daily total began falling

A graph showing the net change in total hospitalisations in New York state per day, revealing that the number of people ending up in hospital has been slowing since April 2 and went into reverse in the past week

A graph showing the number of new infections recorded each day in New York state. While the state hit a record 11,571 on Tuesday, the figure had been largely stable or in decline before that - indicating that it is likely a blip in the data

A graph showing the daily death toll from coronavirus in New York state, revealing that it has remained high by stable over the past week as the number of new cases also stabilises

UK

Two charts showing the number of new coronavirus deaths each day in the UK, and the number of new infections, both of which have remained high but stable as government advisers say it appears the country has passed its peak

ITALY

A graph showing the number of new coronavirus cases in Italy, the world's worst-affected country. The number of new infections has been falling consistently for a month, as the government begins easing some lockdown restrictions

A graph showing the daily death toll in Italy, which has been falling consistently for three weeks. Italy has the highest death total of any world country at more than 21,000, but the situation there is improving

SPAIN

A graph showing the daily total of new coronavirus infections in Spain, which has also been trending downwards since the start of the month - prompting the government to relax some lockdown rules

A graph showing the daily total of deaths from coroanvirus in Spain, also showing a strong downward trend during April

GERMANY

A graph showing the total number of coronavirus cases each day in Germany, which shows that infections have been trending gradually downwards since the start of the month - but with several steep peaks and troughs

A graph showing the daily number of deaths in Germany, which have kept rising even as cases go into gradual decline because of the delay between people getting infected and becoming sick enough to die

SWEDEN

A graph showing the daily infection totals in Sweden, which had been climbing steeply but now appear to be trending downwards. Sweden is significant because it is one of a handful of European countries not to go into lockdown

A graph showing the daily number of deaths in Sweden, which have begun to peak around a week after infections

AUSTRALIA

A graph showing the number of daily infections in Australia, overlaid with a line graph showing the rate of increase. Both have been trending strongly downwards since late March - though the country will remain in lockdown for another month

Lockdown for AT LEAST three more weeks: Dominic Raab declares coronavirus curbs are working but must stay in force despite huge hit to economy - as he rejects demands for an 'exit strategy'

by JAMES TAPSFIELD, Political Editor, for MailOnline

Dominic Raab last night declared that coronavirus lockdown will stay for at least another three weeks despite growing alarm at the economic consequences.

The Foreign Secretary confirmed the public's 'efforts are starting to pay off' but draconian curbs cannot yet be lifted after he chaired a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee.

He said scientists believe transmission in the community is 'almost certainly' below the level at which the outbreak will peter out, although there is still spread in hospitals and care home.

'Based on this advice the government has decided the measures must remain in place for at least the next three weeks,' he told the daily Downing Street briefing.

The government is under massive pressure to set out an 'exit strategy' from the social distancing measures, after its own watchdog warned GDP could plunge by a third and two million people lose their jobs. It came as the UK announced 861 more deaths from the coronavirus, taking the total number of victims to 13,729.

In another dark milestone Britain has now officially diagnosed more than 100,000 people with the virus - making it only the sixth country in the world to do so. But the rising number of cases remains stable, with just 4,618 positive tests in the past 24 hours resulting in a total case count of 103,093.

However, Mr Raab said the biggest threat to the economy was from failure to stay on top of the outbreak and rejected calls for transparency. 'We are being as open as we responsibly can at this stage,' he said.

Instead he merely offered five criteria for when the lockdown could start being loosened. They are certainty that the NHS will not be overwhelmed, a consistent reduction in the death rate, evidence that transmission is at manageable levels, capacity for wide scale testing and PPE provision, and low danger of a 'second peak'.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested earlier that the public cannot be trusted with a blueprint for how the restrictions could be eased, as they might assume the rules are lifted.

But Nicola Sturgeon risked enraging Westminster counterparts by insisting the public does have a right to know how politicians plan to get out of the crisis, as it threatens to rip the economy to shreds.

Dominic Raab tonight declared that coronavirus lockdown will stay for another three weeks despite growing alarm at the economic consequences

Health Secretary Matt Hancock speaks via videolink at the opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital Birmingham today

Raab's five criteria before loosening lockdown Dominic Raab batted away calls to to set out an 'exit strategy' from lockdown tonight. Instead he merely offered five criteria for when the lockdown could start being loosened. # They are: 1. Ensure NHS can provide enough critical care treatment 2. A 'sustained and consistent fall' in daily death rate 3. Reliable data showing rate of infection is decreasing to manageable levels 4. Testing capacity and PPE supply are ready to meet future demand 5. There is no risk of second peak to overwhelm the NHS Advertisement

In a sombre speech in Downing Street, Mr Raab - who is deputising for Boris Johnson as he recuperates at Chequers - said: 'Overall, we still don't have the infection rate down as far as we need to.

'As in other countries we have issues with the virus spreading in some hospitals and in care homes and in sum, the very clear advice we have received is that any change to our social distancing measures now would risk a significant increase in the spread of the virus.

'That would threaten a second peak of the virus and substantially increase the number of deaths.

'It would undo the progress we have made to date and as a result would require an even longer period of the more restrictive social distancing measures.

'So early relaxation would do more damage to the economy over a longer period and I want to be really clear about this.

'The advice from SAGE is that relaxing any of the measures currently in place would risk damage to both public health and our economy.'

He added: 'Based on this advice which we very carefully considered the government has decided that the current measures must remain in place for at least the next three weeks.'

Mr Raab said the public needed to show 'patience' and stick with the restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

'There is light at the end of the tunnel but we are now at both a delicate and a dangerous stage in this pandemic,' he said.

'If we rush to relax the measures that we have in place we would risk wasting all the sacrifices and all the progress that has been made.

'That would risk a quick return to another lockdown with all the threat to life that a second peak to the virus would bring and all the economic damage that a second lockdown would carry.'

Mr Raab said when the government has met its criteria it will look to adjust the measures to make them 'as effective as possible in protecting public health whilst allowing some economic and social activity to resume'.

'But we will only do it when the evidence demonstrates that it is safe to do it,' he said.

'It could involve relaxing measures in some areas while strengthening measures in other areas.'

Mr Raab insisted 'there is light at the end of the tunnel' but refused to set out a 'definitive timeframe' for easing the lockdown measures.

He said: 'The Prime Minister said at the outset that it would take three months to come through the peak and I think that, broadly, is still the outline.

'We can't give a definitive timeframe, that would be to prejudge the evidence, that wouldn't be a responsible thing to do.

'But our message to the British public is: there is light at the end of tunnel, we are making progress, but at the same time we must keep up the social distancing measures.'

But the stance contrasted with that of Ms Sturgeon earlier, when she pledged to set out a 'framework' for loosening lockdown when the time comes.

Answering questions from other Scottish party leaders over video conference this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon said: 'We must continue the lockdown measures for at least another three weeks... we are not yet confident enough that the virus has been suppressed sufficiently.'

Government's own expert condemns slow response to coronavirus One of the government's key experts today condemned the government's response and warned curbs cannot be eased until mass testing is in place. Professor Neil Ferguson warned that there is no possibility of the country returning to 'normal' until a vaccine is produced. The epidemiologist - who has been modelling the outbreak for the government - delivered a withering verdict on the performance of ministers, urging them to 'accelerate action' to create a system where everyone with symptoms, and everyone they have come into contact with, is tested. He suggested the organisation in Whitehall was not on the same scale as the effort on Brexit, despite the problem being on a totally different scale. Discussing whether lockdown measures could be eased after another three weeks, Professor Ferguson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it depended on 'getting on top of things like transmission rates in hospitals and care homes'. 'I think the other thing I would say is that it really requires a single-minded emphasis in Government and the health system on scaling up testing and putting in place the ability to track down cases in the community and contact-trace. 'Because without that, our estimates show we have relatively little leeway; if we relax measures too much then we'll see a resurgence of transmission. 'What we really need is the ability to put something in their place. If we want to open schools, let people get back to work, then we need to keep transmission down in another manner. 'And I should say, it's not going to be going back to normal. We will have to maintain some form of social distancing, a significant level of social distancing, probably indefinitely until we have a vaccine available.' Asked whether the Government is moving towards having an exit strategy in place, Prof Ferguson said: 'I'm not completely sure. I think there's a lot of discussion. I would like to see action accelerated. 'We need to put in place an infrastructure, a command and control structure, a novel organisation for this. 'I'm reminded by the fact we had a Department for Brexit for Government - that was a major national emergency, as it were - and we're faced with something which is, at the moment, even larger than Brexit and yet I don't see quite the same evidence for that level of organisation.' Prof Ferguson added: 'There needs to be more co-ordination I think, yes. That may be going on, I don't have unique insight, but I think it could be enhanced.' Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon said 'people do want to know what the thinking is for beyond that period and she wanted to 'share the thought process'.

'I hope over the course of next week to not announce those decisions... but to set out the framework of decision making.'

In a bad-tempered interview earlier, Mr Hancock said he recognised that 'everybody wants to know what the future looks like'.

But he flatly dismissed calls for the government to flesh out how the restrictions will finally be eased, despite mounting fears that they are wreaking havoc on the economy.

Mr Hancock said the 'clarity of messaging' had a 'direct impact on how many people obey' social distancing rules.

In a round of broadcast interviews, Mr Hancock insisted it was 'too early' for an exit strategy.

Mr Hancock said he did not want to 'waste' the efforts of the public by lifting the lockdown measures prematurely, because coronavirus would 'run rampant once again'.

'I'm not going to pre-judge the formal decision that is going to be taken, however, I think everybody can see that we've been clear that we think that it is too early to make a change,' the Health Secretary told BBC Breakfast.

'And whilst we have seen a flattening of the number of cases, and thankfully a flattening of the number of deaths, that hasn't started to come down yet, and as far as I'm concerned is still far too high.'

Mr Hancock added: 'I understand those who are calling for an end to the lockdown or some kind of exit strategy to start now, but I think it's just too early for that.'

Asked about comments from health minister Nadine Dorries urging people to stop asking about an exit plan, Mr Hancock told Good Morning Britain that it is 'far too early' for things to return to normal.

'What Nadine is saying is that this talk about an exit strategy, with the idea that we go immediately back to exactly how things were before, it is far too early for that,' he said.

'We are seeing that peak, but it's still far too high. And so it is too early to be making changes.'

In bruising clashes with Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4''s Today programme, Mr Hancock angrily told the interviewer to stop interrupting.

'The communications are part of the policy.

'That is why we will not be distracted in to confusing that messaging.

'The scientists can say what they like, the commentators can say what they like,' he swiped.

Research for MailOnline by Redfield & Wilton found 80 per cent would not feel safe going back to everyday life at the moment

Around half the public are now resigned to the draconian 'social distancing' curbs being in place into June

Four-fifths of Britons say they would not feel safe going back to normal life now with HALF resigned to curbs lasting into June Britain is not ready for the coronavirus lockdown to be lifted even if the government wanted to, a poll revealed today. Research for MailOnline found 80 per cent would not feel safe going back to everyday life at the moment, with nearly 60 per cent saying they are not comfortable leaving the house. Around half are now resigned to the draconian 'social distancing' curbs being in place into June - and 37 per cent say they will keep obeying the rules indefinitely if the government believes it is necessary. The extraordinary findings in the polling by Redfield & Wilton come despite some 43 per cent reporting that the crisis is damaging their mental health. The figures underline the challenge for ministers amid fears that the message that people must stay at home to save the NHS has been too successful. Advertisement