LOCKDOWN rules designed to slow the spread of coronavirus are "starting to work", but the UK government will not ease measures "until it is safe to do so".

Speaking at the daily Downing Street press briefing earlier this evening, the UK health secretary Matt Hancock said the country "can't let go of the hard work done so far".

His comments followed news that, since yesterday, 761 more people had died since testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the UK death toll to 12,868.

"This just goes to show why we cannot let up in our efforts," Mr Hancock said.

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In Wales, Public Health Wales confirmed the deaths of another 60 coronavirus patients.

In the Gwent region, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) recorded 20 new cases of coronavirus – 10 in Caerphilly, four in Newport, and three each in Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

But while today's number of new cases in Gwent is the lowest of any single day for some time, the ABUHB area remains the worst-affected by Covid-19 in Wales, with 1,570 of the total 6,070 cases.

At the daily Downing Street press briefing, UK health secretary Matt Hancock praised the nation's carers for their "tenderness and dedicated support", and announced a series of improved measures to curb the spread of coronavirus throughout the UK's care homes.

The UK government will also pursue more recruitment of people into the sector, he added.

Mr Hancock announced more testing for people and staff who are in social care, as well as increased supply of protective equipment (PPE).

Anyone returning to a care home from hospital will now be tested for Covid-19, as will any care home resident or staff member who displays coronavirus symptoms.

Leaders in the social care sector have previously called for more support to tackle the coronavirus outbreak – with recent reports of individual care homes in the UK being underprepared and overwhelmed by the arrival of the disease.

And Care Forum Wales chairman Mario Kreft last month warned the care sector was at risk of being forgotten while government was "throwing the kitchen sink" at supporting the NHS.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Hancock said he was "proud people hold health and social care in such high esteem across the board".

And in a message to carers, he said: "As much as doctors, nurses, and paramedics - you are on the front lines."

He announced plans to create a "badge of honour" to be worn by carers, similar in fashion to the NHS logo sported by health staff.

The badge would let carers “proudly and publicly identify themselves” during the ongoing crisis, he said, and would guarantee them the same benefits – such as priority access to supermarkets – that are currently being offered to NHS workers.

“This badge will be a badge of honour in a very real sense, allowing social care staff proudly and publicly to identify themselves, just like NHS staff do with that famous blue and white logo," he said.

“I know that many businesses will want to offer the same recognition and benefits as they do wonderfully to the NHS.”