UK govt urged to set out lockdown exit plan as toll climbs

The British government was under pressure Wednesday to set out its plans to end the coronavirus lockdown, as the country's death toll approached 13,000.

Keir Starmer, the new leader of the opposition Labour Party, said it would support the government's expected decision on Thursday to renew a stay-at-home order imposed three weeks ago to stem the spread of COVID-19.

He said this was necessary while the UK death toll kept rising.

Figures announced by the health ministry on Wednesday showed that 12,868 people have died from the coronavirus, a rise of 761 over the previous day.

The number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has now reached 98,476, making Britain one of the worst affected countries in the global pandemic.

Starmer, who was elected Labour leader earlier this month, called on ministers to explain within a week their plan for easing restrictions, both to reassure the public and to give lawmakers time scrutinise it properly.

"People need hope, they need to know there's light at the end of the tunnel," Starmer told BBC radio.

In a letter to the government, he also warned: "We cannot repeat mistakes that have already been made on testing and access to protective equipment."