Latest updates: 24 further deaths reported; Sajid Javid announces change to NHS Covid app
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Here’s the report from Jessica Elgot, chief political correspondent, on the changes to the NHS Covid app (also see 16:05 and 16:11):
From Monday, the app will only instruct close contacts to isolate if it is within two days of a positive test, rather than five days, which the government said was in line with the latest public health advice.
It comes amid reports that people are ditching use of the app in droves and the Department of Health said it was urging people to continue to use the app now the changes have been made.
An additional 21,052 people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus today and 24 have died.
Government figures show that a total of 535 people died in the last week – marking a 20.2% rise compared to the previous seven days. Meanwhile, 184,550 people tested positive in the last week – marking a 27% decrease on the previous seven days.
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