Coronavirus death toll rises by 881 taking number killed in UK to 7,978
CORONAVIRUS deaths in the UK have jumped by 881 – bringing the grim total to almost 8,000. Positive cases in the UK have also hit 65,077 – up from 60,733 infections yesterday. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates The Government today confirmed a total of 7,978 have died in […]
CORONAVIRUS deaths in the UK have jumped by 881 – bringing the grim total to almost 8,000.
Positive cases in the UK have also hit 65,077 – up from 60,733 infections yesterday.
Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
The Government today confirmed a total of 7,978 have died in the UK from coronavirus after 881 further deaths were reported in 24 hours.
Among the victims announced today is a top doctor who warned Boris Johnson about the need for “urgent” PPE in the fight against coronavirus.
Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, died after battling the bug for 15 days in hospital.
He is understood to be the 20th known NHS worker to die from the disease while fighting it on the frontline.
NHS England today confirmed a further 765 deaths – bringing the total number of deaths in England to 7,248.
The latest victims were aged between 24 and 103 – including 43 with no underlying health conditions.
In Scotland today, 81 more people have died – bringing their death toll to 447.
Wales has recorded 41 further deaths – with their total now at 286.
In Northern Ireland, there were four new deaths – bringing their total to 82.
Stand-in PM Dominic Raab told today’s No10 briefing it was still “too early” to lift the lockdown and warned Britain has yet to reach the peak of the crisis.
He earlier chaired a Cobra meeting to discuss when the drastic measures should be relaxed.
Today’s death rate is less than yesterday when the UK saw its deadliest day so far after 938 died from the disease.
But the grim death toll has risen and fallen since the three-week lockdown began three weeks ago – although some of this is due to recording issues with the Department of Health.
Advisers still insist the virus outbreak’s peak could still be ten days away — on April 18.
Before falling ill with coronavirus, PM Boris Johnson pledged to review lockdown on Easter Monday, April 13 — three weeks after it began on March 23.
The Government will formally set an extension early next week — after analysing three weeks’ data.
But Downing Street is seriously concerned that people may defy the advice and head out to enjoy 24C (75F) bank holiday sunshine.
Barbecues and sunbathing in parks and open spaces plus visits to the beach or sight-seeing are prohibited — as is having friends round.
There are fears Brits will flout the rules after police were last weekend forced to break up parties and groups of people basking in the sun as the UK enjoyed a mini-heatwave.
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It comes as proud Brits tonight prepare to Clap for our Carers in support of hero NHS workers on the frontline battling the disease.
People will take to their balconies, gardens and their front doors for the mass round of applause, which starts at 8pm.
Major landmarks across the country will also be set to light up blue during the tribute, including the Wembley Arch, the Royal Albert Hall and Lincoln Cathedral.
The Sun is raising funds through our Who Cares Wins Appeal. It pays for crucial services for NHS staff — from providing food and care packs to giving them somewhere to rest.
Yesterday, the UK suffered its deadliest day yet after 938 people died from the disease – bringing the total to 9,097.
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The grim jump deaths is higher than virus-ravaged Italy’s worst day when 919 people died.
Italy has seen one of the worst outbreaks in the world with 17,127 deaths and 135,586 cases.
Separate figures released on Tuesday revealed coronavirus was responsible for one in 20 deaths in the UK.
The numbers from the Office of National Statistics show 501 virus victims died in hospital in the week up to March 27 – meaning 38 others were killed by the disease while at home.
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Last week, the ONS revealed there had been at least 40 deaths at home up to March 20 – so 78 have died from the virus outside of hospital so far.
This week marks 100 days since the World Health Organisation was first alerted to a mystery illness in China when a handful of people fell ill in Wuhan.
Since then, cases have soared to more than 1million globally with the total number of deaths around the world passing 80,000.
