UK records more coronavirus deaths, taking death toll past 27,000

UK records 427 more coronavirus deaths – taking Britain’s official COVID-19 fatality count to 27,198

  • NHS England today confirmed another 352 COVID-19 victims in hospitals 
  • Scotland announced 40 more fatalities, Northern Ireland 18 and Wales 17
  • Those three countries now record care home deaths in their daily update
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The UK today announced 427 more coronavirus deaths, taking Britain’s official fatality toll to 27,180. 

NHS England confirmed another 352 COVID-19 victims in hospitals. But the number of deaths elsewhere in the community has yet to be revealed.

Scotland today announced 40 more fatalities, Northern Ireland posted 18 and Wales recorded 17 more – all three of the counts include care home deaths. 

The Department of Health has yet to post the official daily update, which takes into account all fatalities outside of hospital. But it does not provide a clear breakdown of how many occurred in different settings, such as hospitals. 

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night confirmed the nation is past the peak of the outbreak, with the darkest days now behind us.

In another tumultuous day of coronavirus developments:

  • Ministers were warned the ‘stay at home’ messaging may have worked too well amid fears ‘coronaphobia’ could stop the UK getting back up and running;
  • An interactive map has broken down exactly how many coronavirus deaths have been recorded across England and Wales;
  • A top midwife warned coronavirus could lead to a surge in baby deaths because women enduring a difficult pregnancy are afraid to go to hospitals;
  • Ministers faced demands to push for South Korea-style contact tracing amid signs that the 100,000 a day target for coronavirus tests has been met; 
  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of being ‘slow at every turn’ in the response to the crisis; 
  • Ryanair announced 3,000 job cuts as it revealed it expects to operate under 1 per cent of its schedule between April and June.

Death rates from all causes are higher in poorer areas, the ONS said, but the pandemic appears to be pushing the rates even higher

 Death rates from all causes are higher in poorer areas, the ONS said, but the pandemic appears to be pushing the rates even higher

Boroughs in London accounted for all of the top ten worst hit local authorities, the report showed

Boroughs in London accounted for all of the top ten worst hit local authorities, the report showed