The number of people with Covid-19 who have died at Southport Hospital and Ormskirk Hospital has risen to three figures over the weekend, and now stands at 105.
It follows a sunny weekend when Merseyside Police and Sefton Council were urging people to stay away from our resort’s beaches and parks in a bid to reduce the spread of the disease.
The total number of cases in Sefton has now risen to 742.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been severely ill with Covid-19, returned to make his first live press conference outside 10 Downing Street today since his recovery.
He told people that we are near the ‘end of the first phase’ of the fight against coronavirus, but said the lockdown must go on.
He began by thanking “the people of this country” and “everyone who has stepped up”.
He said: “Every day I know that this virus brings new sadness.
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“It is still true that this is the biggest single challenge this country has faced since the war.
“It is also true we are making progress.”
Boris Johnson has warned that the UK is at the point of “maximum risk” with regard to the coronavirus.
He said he would not “throw away the sacrifice of the British people” by easing lockdown restrictions too quickly.
“I know it is tough. I want to get the economy moving as fast as I can,” he said.
“But I refuse to throw away the sacrifice of the British people and risk a second peak.”
Mr Johnson said the government could not yet spell out how changes to the lockdown policy would be implemented – or how quickly.
He said: “We simply cannot spell out now how fast or slow, or even when, those changes will be made.”
“Clearly the government will be saying much more about this in the coming days.
“These decisions will be taken with the maximum possible transparency.”
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