The UK has reported another 20 COVID deaths and 2,474 cases, according to the latest government figures.

The numbers are up slightly on the 2,357 daily cases and four deaths reported on Monday.

They are also higher than they were last Tuesday when 1,946 new coronavirus infections and four deaths were registered.

Meanwhile, a total of 35,587,348 people have now received a first dose of a COVID vaccine – up from the total of 35,472,295 recorded on Monday.

And 18,088,385 people have now had two vaccine doses – up from the total figure of 17,856,550 recorded on Monday.

It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News the government could change the rules around mask-wearing next month, saying ministers “haven’t ruled that out” as part of step four of England’s roadmap for easing restrictions on 21 June.

The wearing of face coverings in a range of settings, including in shops and on public transport, has been required since last summer.

Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon announced a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions from 17 May in most of Scotland – with hugs between loved ones allowed again.

Scotland’s first minister moved most of the country down from Level 3 to Level 2, which means up to six people from three households can socialise indoors in a private home.

But experts have warned there could be another wave late this summer or in the autumn if restrictions continue to be relaxed as planned.

Modelling by Imperial College’s COVID-19 Response Team also found there could be a “small wave” of hospital admissions and around 9,000 additional deaths by June 2022 if steps three and four of the roadmap continue as scheduled.

They said the timing and size of a third wave will depend on the levels of transmission between 17 May, when restrictions are next eased, and 21 June, when all limits on social contact are due to be removed.

But, if variants of concern emerge that are comparable to the Kent variant, the third wave could be “substantially larger” – both in hospital admissions and deaths – than the spike in the winter of 2021, the researchers said.

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