LONDON, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 41,903 as of Saturday morning, an increase of 3,735 in 24 hours, according to the lastest figure from the Department of Health and Social Care.

London's financial district Canary Wharf is seen as a man exercises in Greenwich Park in South London on March 23, 2020, as people come to terms with the governments request for social distancing as the Covid-19 pandemic grips the UK. (Photo: AFP)

As of Friday afternoon, of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for coronavirus, 4,313 have died, marking a record daily rise of 708, the figure from the department showed. 

During Friday's coronavirus press briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged Britons to stick to social distancing measures despite increasingly warm weather, saying that Britain can not afford to relax these measures now.

"If we do, people will die," he said, "This is an instruction: Stay at home, protect lives, then you will be doing your part."