THE NHS will get “thousands” more ventilators next week, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove promised yesterday as the UK reported its highest yet increase of coronavirus deaths.

NHS hospitals have more than 8,000 breathing machines but the government is buying more from abroad as well as manufacturing them in the UK, he added.

A total of 381 Covid-19 patients died on Monday, the highest single increase in the number of deaths so far. Of those that have been hospitalised, a total of 1,789 have died.

Mr Gove – standing in for PM Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who have tested positive for the virus – said these numbers reinforce the importance of following physical distancing.

During the press conference, NHS England medical director Stephen Powis said there are signs that people are observing social distancing and that the spread of infection may be flattened.

But Mr Gove warned: “Now is absolutely not the time for people to imagine that there can be any relaxation or slackening.

“It is a hopeful sign but we must be wary of over-interpreting any individual day’s data. We must maintain this united national effort in order to keep people safe.”