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Coronavirus – UK death toll surges from 21 to 35 overnight as number of cases hit 1,391
THE coronavirus death toll in the UK surged from 21 to 35 overnight as the number of cases rose from 1,140 to 1,391.
This comes as the UK's youngest victim, 59-year-old Nick Matthews, died from COVID-19 early Saturday after he developed symptoms after a holiday in Spain.
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Cases across the UK have increased from 1,140 to 1,391 in less than a day.
In Wales, cases rose from 60 to 94 and from 121 to 153 in Scotland today where one patient died overnight.
The number of confirmed cases increased from 34 to 45 in Northern Ireland as well.
In England a further 14 people have died. The victims were aged between 59 and 94 years old and had underlying health conditions.
On Sunday evening, the government confirmed four more people, all with underlying health issues, have died from the virus in the North West of England.
A man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s passed away at North Manchester General Hospital while a 91-year-old died at Wythenshawe Hospital.
The fourth victim was a man in his 80s who was being treated at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
DEATH TOLL JUMPS
It comes as the government is preparing to ramp up its efforts in tackling the virus.
In a shock move, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today people aged 70 will have to self-isolate for up to four months.
Asked if that time frame was in the Government's plan, he told Sky's Sophy Ridge: "That is in the action plan, yes, and we will be setting it out with more detail when it is the right time to do so.
"Because we absolutely appreciate that it is a very big ask of the elderly and the vulnerable, and it's for their own self-protection."
QUARANTINE ARREST POWERS
Pressed on when the measure will be introduced, he said: "Certainly in the coming weeks, absolutely.
"The measures that we're taking, the measures that we're looking at taking, are very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in the country in order to tackle this virus."
He also confirmed that ministers were seeking to give police powers to arrest and forcibly quarantine people who are sick with the virus but are not self-isolating.
"We are going to take the powers to make sure that we can quarantine people if they are a risk to public health, yes, and that's important," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr.
"I doubt that actually we will need to use it much, because people have been very responsible."
The news comes as:
- The UK death toll has risen from 21 to 35 overnight and there are now 1,391 COVID-19 cases
- Health Secretary Matt Hancock said elderly people would be told to stay inside for up to four months in the coming weeks
- Spain and Italy are on a 15-day lockdown with flights cancelled and tourists told to 'stay indoors'
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked Rolls Royce and JCB to build thousands of ventilators
- The Queen has quit Buckingham Palace because of virus fears and has been whisked off to Windsor castle
- Families will be told to self-isolate together if just ONE shows symptoms
Families will be told to self-isolate if one person comes down with virus symptoms.
Pubs and restaurants could also close across the UK as part of a drastic plan to stop the spread of the killer bug.
And the Queen has been taken to Windsor Castle amid COVID-19 fears.
Plans are also in place to quarantine her and Prince Philip, 98, at Sandringham if the outbreak worsens.
Shoppers have also been warned against panic buying as the government hinted it could step in to stop irresponsible hoarders.
Teachers have also demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his decision to keep schools open during a global pandemic.
A meeting over the weekend with the Government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) has concluded that Britain will "soon" move to trying to delay the peak of the outbreak.
Mr Hancock wrote in The Sunday Telegraph: "SAGE has advised the next planned effective interventions will need to be instituted soon, including measures to ‘shield’ older and medically vulnerable people from the virus.
"Everyone will need to help to ensure they get the support they need to stay at home, and to protect them from the consequences of isolation: loneliness, and a lack of support.
"Government, local councils, charities, friends and neighbours will need to be part of the national effort to support the shielded. We will provide expert advice and support as soon as we progress to this phase.
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Prime Minister Johnson will personally urge manufacturers to build ventilators, amid concerns that critical care facilities will come under intense pressure as the Covid-19 crisis intensifies.
Mr Hancock said: "The thing the NHS needs now more than anything else is more ventilators. We've been buying as many as we can but we need to produce more too."
He said he could not make guarantees that everyone who requires a ventilator will get one, saying: "We don't make guarantees in healthcare."
Engineers have already been asked to draw up plans to quickly produce more ventilators in the UK, with JCB confirming it had been approached by the PM regarding the production of such equipment.
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