Statistics on coronavirus infections and deaths are starting to show the first signs that lockdown restrictions are “beginning to pay off”, one of the UK’s most senior medics has said.

But Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, warned that the UK remains in a “dangerous phase” of the outbreak and there was no room yet for relaxation of social distancing rules.

However, speaking alongside health secretary Matt Hancock at the latest daily press conference in Downing Street, he suggested that – despite record numbers of deaths announced earlier in the day – the UK might be past the worst of the pandemic within a matter of weeks.

“This is not over yet,” said Prof Van-Tam. “We have to take the pain now to get the gain in a few weeks time”

Figures released today showed an additional 980 deaths of people with coronavirus symptoms in UK hospitals – the largest daily total of the outbreak so far, bringing the overall death toll to 8,958.

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But Prof Van-Tam pointed to graphs suggesting that, after a rapid increase since mid-March, the rate of infections and deaths may be flattening out, and that numbers of patients requiring hospital care in coronavirus hotspot London has dropped sharply.

Looking at figures for Covid-19 patients needing hospital beds, he said: “There has been a steady increase, but possibly you can see that the curve is bending.

“It’s impossible to say that we have peaked … however I suggest to you that the curve is beginning to bend and that your hard work is beginning to pay off.

“But this is just not over. It needs to continue.”

Prof Van-Tam said the UK’s figures were “broadly in line” with what was happening in other countries.

“It’s still a dangerous situation, we have to keep taking measures to bring this under control,” he said.

“It’s premature to say we are at a peak and the push we are making with social distancing just has to continue.”

Mr Hancock said it was too early to judge whether lockdown restrictions would be extended when they come up for a three-week review on 16 April.

Matt Hancock at the Downing Street coronavirus press conference (EPA)

Tests for coronavirus reached 19,116 on Thursday, which Mr Hancock claimed put the government “on track” to meet his 100,000 daily target by the end of April. He acknowledged there was still “a lot of work” to do to hit the target.

Some 15 drive-through test centres are now processing frontline staff and their families, in order to identify whether NHS workers need to self-isolate or return to work.

“I can announce today that we have capacity for all key social care staff and NHS staff who need to be tested to get those tests,” Mr Hancock told the briefing.

Following the creation of a dedicated test processing facility in Milton Keynes, two new “Lighthouse mega-labs” were on track in Cheshire and Glasgow, with a further facility due to open in Cambridge at the end of the month, he said.

New Nightingale hospitals are to be opened in Sunderland and Exeter, to add to the new hospitals already announced in London, Birmingham, Harrogate, Manchester and Bristol.

Mr Hancock described the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) as a “Herculean logistical effort”, and urged both NHS staff and members of the public to use it only when necessary.

As part of a three-pronged approach to boosting supplies, the UK is creating a domestic PPE manufacturing capability, he said.

Urging members of the public not to use equipment like face masks which scientific advice suggests is not appropriate outside health and care settings, he said: “There’s enough PPE to go around, but only if it’s used in line with our guidance.

“We need everyone to treat PPE like the precious resource that it is. That means only using it when there’s a clinical need, and not using more than is needed.”

Since the start of the outbreak there have been more than 742 million pieces of PPE delivered to the frontline, including 161 million masks, 127 million aprons, a million gowns and 345 million pairs of gloves, said Mr Hancock.

But shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth responded: “This isn’t the first time ministers have given NHS and social care staff big promises on PPE.

“But there has been a mismatch between statements at Downing Street press conferences and the realities facing health and care staff on the ground. Staff have been raising the alarm over lack of PPE for weeks. We hope the government’s plans today deliver the adequate supplies of PPE our brave health care staff deserve.”

Mr Hancock said that there were more than 2,000 spare hospital beds available with ventilators, with the amount of spare capacity increasing steadily.

He said: “I’m very pleased that thus far in this crisis there is no point where the NHS has been overrun, and every single person with coronavirus has been able to access the best possible care in the NHS, because we have taken the action to expand the NHS.”

He confirmed that he was working with chancellor Rishi Sunak on an analysis of how many additional deaths might result from the economic damage caused by the outbreak and the measures needed to bring it under control.

But he dismissed a reported figure of 150,000 excess deaths due to the economic slowdown as incorrect. And he appealed to anyone with serious non-Covid medical ailments like cancer or heart complaints not to hesitate to contact healthcare providers for help.

The health secretary issued another warning to the public to “stay at home” over the Easter weekend.

“This Easter will be another test of the nation’s resolve,” said Mr Hancock. “It’s a time of year when people normally come together.

“But however warm the weather, however tempting your local beach or park, we need everyone to stay at home.

“Because in hospitals across the country, NHS staff are battling day and night to keep desperately sick people breathing, and they need you to stay at home.”

Chief nursing officer Ruth May said: “It is personally frustrating to see people clearly not doing social distancing, clearly coming out in large groups.

“I was on the way here going over Westminster Bridge seeing a whole horde of cyclists coming over together. It is enormously frustrating.”

Ms May said healthcare staff had faced abuse for going out to work during the lockdown.