Child, 11, becomes one of Britain’s youngest coronavirus victims as UK death toll rises by 917 to 9,875 in 24 hours

THE coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen to 9,875  - with the youngest victim just 11-years-old.

That is a leap of 917 in the last 24 hours up from Friday's total of 8,958 as the country remains in lockdown battling against the virus.

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Almost 2,000 Brits have now died in hospital in the past 48 hours after catching the bug.

On Friday, Britain's coronavirus death toll jumped by 980 in 24 hours - making it the biggest rise yet and more deadly than Spain's worst day of their outbreak (961).

The death toll continues to climb as officials believe new Covid-19 infections will peak on Easter Sunday and the NHS is braced for a "tsunami" of cases this weekend.

The total number of UK cases is now 78,991, with 5,234 new cases in the past 24 hours.

NHS England said this afternoon the 823 more who have died in England were between 11 and 102 years old.

And 33 of those patients - between 29 and 94 years old - had no known underlying health condition.

Previously, the UK's youngest coronavirus victim was "very healthy" 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab.

Matt Hancock told Friday's No 10 press conference the devastating figures did not mean the NHS is being "overrun" by the pandemic.

He said: "I'm very pleased, that thus far in this crisis, there is no point where the NHS has been overrun, and every single person with coronavirus has been able to access the best possible care in the NHS, because we have taken the action to expand the NHS."

Scotland reported 47 more covid-19 related deaths, as the toll there rises to 542 with 5,590 cases.

And Northern Ireland reported 15 more deaths, adding to a total of 107 people dying in the country from coronavirus.

There were 128 new cases of the virus, bringing the total of confirmed positive tests in the region since the outbreak began to 1,717.

Social distancing could be in place indefinitely, while the government works to battle the killer virus causing chaos across the world.

More than 100,000 people have now died from coronavirus, with more than a million cases globally.

Although plans show the lockdown is likely to be in place for a few more months at least, a careful return to classrooms could be the first stage in the virus exit strategy.

Whitehall officials in the Department for Education are thought to be considering plans which would start different age groups going back to school between June and July, after the break.

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But this is said to all hinge on when the peak of the pandemic arrives for the UK.

Scientists modelling the outbreak believe tough social distancing measures have slowed the spread of the bug.

Hospital admissions are now predicted to start falling in around a fortnight, if Brits continue to stay at home.

Last week it was confirmed schools would not reopen after Easter after one minister suggested reopening schools after Easter could “kick-start the economy”.

The unnamed minister was quoted calling for kids to be allowed back to school after the Easter holidays in a fortnight.

Brits could live with coronavirus restrictions until a vaccine is developed which could take "around 18 months", according to reports.

More severe restrictions will be gradually phased out but some, such as remote working and isolating if you have symptoms of the virus, will remain in some form next year.

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Scientists say the discovery of a vaccine is the only genuine "exit strategy" from the virus, meaning the country will have to adjust to a 'new normal', the Daily  reported.

It comes after foreign secretary Dominic Raab told the nation that it was "too early" to lift the lockdown, and that the country "must stick to the plan" in place.

The Sun is raising funds through our  It pays for crucial services for NHS staff — from providing food and care packs to giving them somewhere to rest.

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