SOCIAL distancing rules 'cannot be relaxed' just because warmer weather is on its way, the Health Secretary has warned.

Matt Hancock, speaking at the daily Government press briefing, said the coronavirus “continues its grim march” before he reiterated the latest data of tests and deaths.

He added: “We are reminded again today that for the NHS this truly is the frontline.

“In the last 24 hours, two nurses and two healthcare assistants have tragically died fighting coronavirus.

“Every life lost to this dreadful disease makes me more determined than ever to push for victory.”

Mr Hancock said he wanted to thank everyone who has stayed at home as they are “giving the NHS the time to expand so that it can save lives”.

After confirming the plans for further Nightingale hospitals, Mr Hancock said: “Since the start of this crisis, we’ve boosted the number of critical care beds to care for coronavirus by over 2,500.

“That’s before the addition we’ll get from the Nightingale hospitals.”

On PPE, Mr Hancock said more than 26 million products were delivered to 281 different organisations on Thursday.

He added he has agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive to “immediately” provide five million items of PPE to meet their needs.

“Over 7,000 NHS staff have been tested,” Mr Hancock also said.

Mr Hancock said research on treatment for Covid-19 was “essential to our plan” for tackling the epidemic and announced the UK was carrying out world-leading trials.

“We are bringing together some of the finest research minds in the country to design new trials and we’re delivering them at record pace,” he said.

“We have established three national clinical trials covering each major stage of the disease – primary care, hospital care and critical care for the most seriously ill.

“Just like the Nightingale hospital, one of these was put together in just nine days which is breathtaking speed.

“These trials are looking at the effectiveness of existing drugs and steroids, re-purposed for treatment for Covid-19.

“One of the trials, which is called recovery and deals in hospital care, is the largest of its kind in the world, with 926 patients involved.”

Mr Hancock said more patients were needed to volunteer to take part in the trials, saying the “bigger the trials, the better the data and the faster we can roll out the treatments”.

During the press conference, Mr Hancock gave an “instruction” for people to continue to stay at home this weekend, even if the weather proves good.

He said: “We are set for a warm weekend in some parts of the country.

“But the disease is still spreading and we absolutely cannot afford to relax the social distancing measures we have in place.

“We cannot relax our discipline now. If we do, people will die.

“I end with the advice we all know. This advice is not a request – it is an instruction.

“Stay at home, protect lives and then you will be doing your part.”

Chief nursing officer Ruth May also paid tribute to medics who have died after contracting coronavirus, adding “I worry that there is going to be more”.

She also echoed concerns UK residents would consider breaking social distancing as sunshine hits some part of the country.

The chief nursing officer urged members of the public not to be tempted to go outside in the forecast sunny weather this weekend and remember the two nurses who died after contracting Covid-19.

Two nurses, Areema Nasreen and Aimee O’Rourke, both in their 30s, have died after contracting the virus.

In the daily Downing Street press conference, Ms May said: “This weekend is going to be very warm and it will be very tempting to go out and enjoy those summer rays.

“But please, I ask to remember Aimee and Areema. Please stay at home for them.”

Ms May expressed her condolences to their families, friends and colleagues and said she feared further nurses will die.

She said: “They were one of us, they were one of my profession, of the NHS family. I worry that there’s going to be more and I want to honour them today and recognise their service.”