The weekly number of people dying from coronavirus in England and Wales has risen for the first time in five months.

New data published today by the Office for National Statistics showed 99 coronavirus deaths in the week ending September 11.

This is up by 21 on the 78 deaths registered a week earlier.

It is a small increase when compared to the numbers at the height of the pandemic, but it significantly marks the first time weekly deaths have risen since mid-April.

It comes as Boris Johnson prepares to announce more lockdown measures in the Commons later today.

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The PM has been forced to abandon his drive to get Britons back to the workplace, with pubs, bars and restaurants in England facing a 10pm curfew from Thursday.

Mr Johnson will face MPs, including Tories who are uneasy about the way the Government has imposed restrictions, before an address to the nation on Tuesday evening.

He will outline other measures to stop the spread of Covid-19, which will also restrict the hospitality sector to table service only.

Mr Johnson will emphasise the need for people to follow social-distancing guidance, wear face coverings and wash their hands regularly.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove accepted that the Government’s call for people to return to the workplace, a measure seen as critical for the survival of cafes and other businesses which rely on commuters and office workers, had been dropped.

He said there was a ‘shift in emphasis’, telling Sky News: ‘If it is possible for people to work from home then we would encourage them to do so.’

This is a breaking news story, more to follow.

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