Britain's GDP may fall by up to 30% amid COVID-19 pandemic: reports

LONDON - Britain's gross domestic product (GDP) could fall by 25 to 30 percent in the second quarter amid the COVID-19 pandemic, British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak said during the weekend, according to local media reports.

Sunak made the remarks when discussing with his colleagues about the virus's impact on the economy as members of the cabinet pressed for easing lockdown restrictions next month.

The death toll of the COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Britain reached 10,612 as of Saturday afternoon, the Department of Health and Social Care said Sunday.

As of Sunday morning, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain hit 84,279, said the department.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson "has been discharged from hospital to continue his recovery at Chequers," a Downing Street spokesman said Sunday.

"On the advice of his medical team, the PM will not be immediately returning to work. He wishes to thank everybody at St Thomas' for the brilliant care he has received," the spokesman said.