Coronavirus map LIVE: UK coronavirus outbreak NOT as bad as first thought – as pubs reopen

The UK Government has now changed its data to remove duplicates across pillars one and two. Pillar one is whereby tests have been carried out for NHS or care staff across the four nations. Pillar two is swab testing comes from the wider community such as care homes. From July 2, the UK Government has removed duplicates across the pillars to ensure a person who tests positive is only counted once. This, therefore, removed 30,302 previous reported cases from the UK’s COVID-19 total. With this in mind, the UK’s total now stands 284,276 of lab-confirmed test results.

A statement read: “The methodology for reporting positive cases changed on 2 July 2020 to remove duplicates within and across pillars 1 and 2, to ensure that a person who tests positive is only counted once.

“Due to this change, and a revision of historical data in pillar 1, the cumulative total for positive cases is 30,302 lower than if you added the daily figure to yesterday’s total.

“Numbers of lab-confirmed positive cases throughout this website now include those identified by testing in all settings (pillars 1 and 2).”

The daily number of lab-confirmed cases was registered at 544 on Friday. 

Deaths from COVID-19 is now 44,131. 

As of 9am on July 3, there have been 205,673 tests sent or carried out, taking the total to 10,120,276. 

This comes as pubs re-open across England for the first time since March as Boris Johnson pushes forward with the final step of the lockdown exit strategy.

FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES:

7.42am update: 57,562 cases reported in the US 

The US has recorded a further 57,562 over the past 24 hours according to the latest data. 

This is the third consecutive day of more than 50,000 new cases. 

Florida, California, Texas, Arizona and Georgia have all reported large single-day increases. 

7.38pm update: More than 100 cases reported in Tokyo 

Japan’s capital has confirmed a further 130 new cases on Saturday marking the third day with more than 100. 

On Thursday there had been 107, while Friday reported 124 although the nation’s infection rate remains below many other countries. 

7.18pm update: UK’s cases total less than first thought 

The UK Government has changed the way it has recorded cases as of July 2. 

In an announcement, the Government has removed duplicates from pillar one and two. 

Pillar one is testing from NHS laboratories across the four nations while pillar two is testing which comes from the community. 

Due to this change in how cases are counted, the total numbers has been reduced by 30,302 – the total now stands at 284,276.