UK coronavirus death toll hits 28,650 as 204 people die but it’s the lowest rise in England since the day after lockdown

THE UK coronavirus death toll today hit 28,650 as another 204 patients died in England – the lowest increase since the day after lockdown.

The last time England recorded such a low 24 hour fatality rate was six weeks ago on March 24 when 193 deaths were reported.

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Reuters

There is often a drop in Monday’s figures due to a lag in reporting over the weekend with tomorrow’s number likely to be higher.

But this is also the lowest number recorded on a Monday for six weeks when 154 deaths were reported on March 23.

The number of fatalities, up from yesterday’s figure of 28,446, means that the UK remains one of the worst in the world hit by the deadly bug.

The new figures mean England’s death toll is 21,384, with the youngest patient recorded today including a 26-year-old.

Three of the 204 patients, aged between 41 and 58, had no underlying health conditions.

Today, Scotland’s death toll rose by five, hitting 1,576 in total.

Meanwhile, Wales reported another 14 deaths, bringing the total to 997.

It comes as…

• Canteens could be closed and masks worn in offices to minimise the risk of a second peak
• Primary schools are to reopen at the start of next month
• Millions of Brits could find out if they’ve had coronavirus thanks to antibody tests claimed to be 100 per cent accurate
• Chancellor Rishi Sunak is under pressure to extend the furlough scheme
• The North West has overtaken London as Britain’s coronavirus epicentre

According to figures for reported deaths, Britain has overtaken France, which has had 24,864 deaths and Spain, which has recorded 25,264 deaths.

And despite the worrying comparison, differences in how each country reports its data means that the grim-looking comparison might not be quite as it appears.

The UK is still way behind the US, which has suffered the most deadly outbreak in the world, with 67,448 already dead.

While these statistics make for grim reading for Brits, it is also vital to take into account the key differences in reporting data in different countries.

For example, Spain does not currently record care home deaths and only counts cases where there has been a positive test for the virus, the its real death toll may be much higher.

France also has lags in reporting its care home deaths, which it began to include at the start of this month.

Countries are also at different points of the pandemic, which makes direct comparisons difficult.

Coronavirus outbreaks in mainland Europe started a few weeks earlier than in the UK.

But official government charts have shown Britain with a steeper trend in deaths than other European countries.

Data suggests Britain has a higher death toll than France, Spain and Italy did at the same point of their outbreaks.

But the UK has a bigger population than Italy and Spain and slightly smaller than France.

GOV.UK

The graph suggests the death toll in the UK is now worse than France, Italy and Spain’s were at the same point of their outbreaks[/caption]

GOV.UK

While this graph, which takes into account population size, suggests the UK is worse off than France and Italy at the same point of their outbreaks but better off than Spain[/caption]

Today’s coronavirus death toll figures come as an expert warned thousands of people could die in the future as an “indirect” result of the pandemic.

Cancer patients whose screenings have been cancelled and Brits hit by the looming recession will be among the toll.

Sir Ian Diamond, Office for National Statistics head, spoke of “indirect deaths” caused by Covid-19 on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.

He said: “Changes in the prioritisation of the health service, for example, reductions in cancer screening, will lead to deaths over the next few years.

“If we have a lengthy and deep recession . . .  that can lead to increased deaths as people are pushed into lengthy periods of unemployment.”

He said the high number of current deaths being seen was down to the UK having the world’s “best, most transparent and quickest recording”.

It came as ministers admitted the virus would have killed fewer if testing had started sooner.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps became the first Cabinet minister to say the toll would be lower if testing had been ramped up sooner.

He said: “If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started many things could be different.”

Fellow Cabinet minister Michael Gove said the Government had made “mistakes.”

Meanwhile, Brits are facing massive changes when they go back to work as employers are urged to minimise the risk of a second peak.

According to the BBC, restrictions being eased will see companies told to minimise the amount of staff using equipment, stagger shift times and maximise home-working.

The draft strategy also calls for the use physical screens and the use of protective equipment when staff cannot work two metres from each other.

Staff will also be told to avoid sharing pens and avoid face-to-face meetings.

The Prime Minister will reveal his “roadmap” out of lockdown this Sunday.

Last week Boris Johnson announced the public will be asked to wear face masks when lockdown measures are lifted as they are “useful”.

The PM confirmed The Sun’s story that scientists have advised they can have an effect on stopping the spread of the bug.