UK should prepare ‘for surge in virus deaths to highest level’ this week toll rises by 717 to 11,329, warns Gov adviser
CORONAVIRUS deaths "will increase further" this week after 717 more people lost their lives to the bug, the UK's chief scientific adviser said.
The country reached another grim milestone today with the number of deaths from Covid-19 reaching 11,329 as confirmed cases also rose to 88,621 - up from 84,279 infections yesterday.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
At the government's daily press briefing, Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, said the UK should prepare itself for a surge in deaths this week before the rates "plateau"
He said "We’re tracking behind Italy - this week we’re going to see a further increase thereafter we should see a plateau.
"That may last for some time before we see a decrease. That’s what we’d expect to see."
Sir Patrick also said that the expected downturn in the death rate would be gradual and could take place over "two or three weeks";.
He said: "With the deaths, not only is there a delay but we would expect them to be a much more gradual decrease if you look at other countries.
NOT OVER PEAK
"That's what we’d expect to go on for two or three weeks but we can’t be absolutely sure.
The government expert said the number of people in hospital beds with Covid-19 is beginning to "flatten off" in many parts of the country.
He said it is expected to continue to flatten and decrease as the effects of social-distancing "really feed through into the illness we are seeing in hospital".
Sir Patrick appeared alongside Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab who said there are some "positive signs" from the latest data that show the UK is "starting to win this struggle" against coronavirus but warned: "We are still not past the peak."
Mr Raab praised people for staying at home during the Easter weekend and added: "Our plan is working. Please stick with it and we'll get through this crisis together."
He said: "At the end of last week we were concerned that people might start ignoring the advice or cutting corners given the temptation to go out into the sunshine.
'WINNING THE STRUGGLE'
"In fact the overwhelming majority of people stayed at home and understood the importance of doing so.
"By staying home this weekend, you've saved lives.
"Thank you, your efforts are making all the difference. And please keep them up - we've come too far, we've lost too many loved ones and we've sacrificed too much to ease up now."
Among the latest deaths is a 21-year-old nursery worker who died after catching coronavirus while waiting for a transplant in hospital.
Katie Horne, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, battled both Covid-19 and a liver condition for 12 days after the positive diagnosis meant she wasn't able to go on the transplant list.
And eight more health workers have died from the disease - bringing the total for NHS and care workers to 39.
Terrified frontline staff after now begging for protective gear - with one nurse claiming they were having to reuse a plastic apron and mask.
In England today, the NHS confirmed 667 people aged between 17 and 98 had died - including 40 with no underlying health conditions.
The figure puts total deaths in England at 10,261.
In Scotland today, nine more people have died bringing the death toll to 575.
And there have been 15 further deaths in Wales - with their total now at 384.
While in Northern Ireland, six more people have died - bringing the total number of deaths to 124.
There were 14,506 Covid-19 tests carried out as of 9am this morning - less than yesterday's number of 18,000.
Yesterday, deaths in the UK reached 10,612 after another 737 people lost their lives to the disease.
But the true total could be higher due to a lag in reporting the figures over the weekend.
Previous weekends have seen official numbers fall, before they start to climb again the following week.
It comes as Boris Johnson praised "unconquerable" medics at London’s St Thomas’ Hospital in an emotional video message after he was released from hospital following a seven-day battle with the killer bug.
The PM said: “The NHS saved my life. No question. Things could have gone either way.”
And he heaped particular praise Jenny McGee, 35, and Luis Pitarma, 29, who watched over him for 48 hours in intensive care giving him vital oxygen.
He posted the video message after a reunion with pregnant fiancee Carrie Symonds at Downing Street.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
The PM will now spend time recovering from Covid-19 at his country home in Buckinghamshire, Chequers.
Meanwhile Dominic Raab will continue to chair the daily Covid-19 meetings in his absence, and will start reviewing evidence of how the lockdown is working.
Last week he said it was "too soon" to ease the measures and warned they were likely to be extended.
Britain is now entering its fourth week of coronavirus lockdown with the government set to review the rules by Thursday.
Mr Johnson triggered the drastic measures on March 23 - ordering all non-essential travel and public gatherings to stop as well as closing pubs and restaurants.
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .
Since the rules were imposed, the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus has gone from 6,650 to more than 80,000.
Total deaths in the UK have also risen from 335 on March 23 to more than 10,000 - with fears the death toll has not reached its peak yet.
The Times quoted an unnamed minister as saying it was important not to do "more damage", and measures could be eased after another three weeks.
Any lifting of the lockdown could see a second wave of cases hit the UK and put the NHS under pressure yet again.
Separate figures released last week revealed coronavirus was responsible for one in 20 deaths in the UK.
The numbers from the Office of National Statistics show at least 78 have died from the virus outside of hospital so far - with the latest figures released tomorrow.