UK coronavirus deaths drop to 341 in lowest Saturday rise as cases fall by 13% week-on-week

CORONAVIRUS cases in the UK today dropped by 13 per cent - as 341 more people died in the lowest Saturday rise this month.

A further 19,875 people tested positive for the disease - bringing the total number of cases to 1,493,383.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

This is lower than yesterday's 20,252 new cases - suggesting the curve in the second wave in flattening.

And it is a 13 per cent drop from the previous seven days to November 14.

The Department of Health also confirmed 341 more people have died - bringing the total number of deaths to 54,626.

It comes as:

• Covid stats reveal 95% of deaths had underlying health conditions
• Plans are being made for a mass testing trial using pregnancy-style kits
• Trials for a new "antibody cocktail" drug will begin in the UK this weekend
• Every adult will be vaccinated against Covid by April under radical plans 
• An NHS chief warns l
• Travel quarantine is set to be slashed from 14 days to five days

Today's latest figures is lower than yesterday when 511 died.

And it is the lowest Saturday rise this month after 462 died in the deadliest Saturday since May 2 last week.

In England, 316 more people lost their lives to the bug - bringing the total to 38,112.

The latest victims were aged between 28 and 102 with all but five having underlying health conditions.

A further 28 people have died in Wales, with their total now at 2,365.

In Scotland today, 37 more died - bringing the total to 3,496.

While in Northern Ireland, another ten people died, with 923 lives lost in total.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday Britain is “heading in the right direction” and that the Covid second peak is "flattening".

It comes as lockdown rules could be relaxed for a week over Christmas - leading to tough restrictions until late December.

Families will be granted up to seven days of festive freedom from December 22-28 under new Government plans.

But Public Health England officials have already warned every day of easing would demand "five days of tighter restrictions".

This paves the way for 25 days of lockdown in the New Year.

It comes despite the coronavirus R rate falling for the second week in a row - with only the South East above 1.