Britain's coronavirus outbreak is probably peaking, but it is too early to start relaxing restrictions, officials said as critics warned that the country may end up with the worst death rate in Europe due to government failings, Reuters reports.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top medical adviser, Chris Whitty, said on Wednesday that data on the extent and impact of the outbreak was encouraging but that it was too soon to focus the next phase of the government's response.

So far, more than 12,868 people with COVID-19 have died in British hospitals, though new official data indicates the true death toll could be much higher. Whitty said the daily number of deaths could rise in coming days due to reporting lags.