Hundreds of new ventilators are being manufactured daily in the UK - and 300 arrived from China on Saturday, a senior government minister has said.

Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the government was working with ventilator suppliers in the UK to make existing and modified models in great numbers, with new models available soon.

"More are coming into production in the coming weeks, subject to safety and regulatory approvals, as part of the prime minister's call to manufacturers to scale up production," he said at the government's daily COVID-19 news conference on Saturday.

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Mr Gove said a team from University College London, working with Mercedes Benz, has produced a new non-invasive respirator that has been given clinical approval.

He said 250 of the products were currently being produced each day, rising to 1,000 per day next week.


"We are also increasing the capacity of the NHS to deploy invasive ventilation, we have been buying invasive ventilators from partners abroad including Germany and Switzerland," he added.

"And today 300 new ventilators arrived from China."

Image: University College London and Mercedes have developed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) breathing aid

Another focus of the daily briefing was reiterating the government's message to follow the lockdown rules and not to be tempted to break the social distancing rules during the sunny weather this weekend.

Mr Gove said the increasing death toll from the coronavirus shows "more than ever" that Britons must stick to the government's guidelines.

"I know that life under lockdown can be challenging, and some will be tempted on this sunny weekend to venture out and about," he said.

"If we relax our adherence to the rules, we increase the risk for others."

Image: Michael Gove said 300 more ventilators arrived from China on Saturday. File pic

Mr Gove urged people "to think of those on the front line and the sacrifices they're making for us", as he revealed that seven healthcare professions have now died after contracting the virus.

He said: "Whatever the temptations this weekend, please don't go outside to visit the lakes, the beaches, the countryside... take pride instead in keeping your own families and communities safe.

"The more we restrict contact, the more we slow the spread of the infection, the more time we have to build capacity in the NHS."

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The appeal comes after it was confirmed that another 708 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the UK's total to 4,313.

One of the latest victims was aged five, the youngest English victim so far.

Meanwhile, a leading scientist and government adviser has said social distancing measures in the UK could be relaxed within weeks if there are signs the epidemic is slowing.

The government has warned Britons that COVID-19 will claim more lives over the coming weeks if people give into temptation and head out to enjoy the sunshine this weekend.

Clear skies and temperatures of upwards of 18C (64.4F) have been forecast for Sunday, which could make it all the more difficult for some to adhere to lockdown measures enforced to combat the spread of the virus.

'We cannot afford to relax'

NHS England national medical director Stephen Powis told the news conference that the latest figures suggest new cases of COVID-19 have begun to "stabilise".

But he added there was "no room for complacency" and everyone should continue to follow the lockdown rules.

Mr Gove said hospital admission rates are rising in some parts of the country, up by 35% in Yorkshire and the North East and 47% up in the Midlands.

Conspiracy theories linking the deployment of 5G masts to the coronavirus outbreak were slammed by Mr Gove, who described them as "dangerous nonsense".

Mr Powis added: "The 5G story is complete and utter rubbish, it is nonsense, it is the worst kind of fake news."