GRIM TALLY
UK coronavirus death toll rises to 18,100 as 763 more die including 26-year-old die
1
THE UK coronavirus death toll has risen to 18,100 after 763 more deaths were recorded today.
The Department of Health confirmed that 133,495 have tested positive for the killer bug - up 4,451 from yesterday.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Today's rise in deaths is lower than yesterday's, which saw 828 more people die.
It is higher, however, than the two days before that, with a further 449 deaths recorded on Monday and 596 on Sunday.
This is likely to have been due to a backlog in testing over the weekend, before which, the death rate was more consistent with today's.
'WE ARE AT A PEAK'
Today, health secretary Matt Hancock told MPs he was confident the country had reached the peak of the virus.
He stressed, however, that continued social distancing was needed to bring the new number of cases down.
Speaking during today's Commons session, he said: "We have high confidence that we are at a peak in this disease, but obviously we need to see that come down. It's a question of degree.
"The fewer new cases, the more effective test, track and trace are as a way of keeping the disease down, and therefore the more of the social distancing measures can be lifted."
In England, the number of hospital deaths has risen to 16,272.
Of them, 26 patients (aged between 48 and 95) had no underlying health conditions.
The rise in England is also lower than it was yesterday, when 778 people died from the virus.
It is almost identical, however, to the rise recorded on the same day last week (651).
On Sunday and Monday, the spike in deaths across England was far lower, sitting at 482 and 429 respectively.
Again, this is likely to be due to a backlog in records taken over the weekend.
In Scotland, the number of coronavirus deaths in hospitals has now passed 1,000 (1,062), after 77 more were recorded in the last 24 hours.
A further 15 covid-19 related deaths were recorded in Wales, bringing the total number of fatalities there to 624.
It comes as:
- NHS workers need to be re-tested after minister admits early tests were inaccurate
- RAF plane picks up '84 tonnes' of PPE from Turkey
- Patients turned away from Nightingale hospital because of lack of nurses
- Brits to be told to wear face masks in public
- New stats suggest UK deaths could be 40% higher than reported
- Brits in their 50s and 60s should isolate like older people, experts warn
- 2,000 people may have died of covid-19 in care homes over Easter weekend
Among the latest UK deaths was Julie Penfold, an "exceptional" nurse, 53, who had fostered more than 20 children in her lifetime.
She joins more than 100 frontline medics who have died from covid-19, including orthopaedic surgeon Sadeq Elhowsh, 58, - whose coffin was clapped by hundreds of NHS workers in an emotional send off.
Meanwhile, new stats suggest the UK's death toll could be 40% higher than reported.
Figures revealed yesterday that 13,121 fatalities in England and Wales up to April 10 - compared to the 9,288 announced at the time.
It would suggest more than 25,000 may now have already died.
The difference is down to deaths that happened outside hospital - including at care homes, hospices and private homes - as well as delays in recording fatalities.
It comes as officials revealed as many as 2,000 people may have died in care homes over the four day Easter weekend.
PPE CONCERNS
Many have blamed the number of deaths on a lack of PPE for frontline workers.
In yesterday's daily coronavirus briefing, health secretary Matt Hancock said: "I am determined to get people the PPE they need."
He added that the government was "working to improve the delivery system" and they have a "diverse range of suppliers".
This morning, an RAF plane sent to pick up an 84-tonne consignment of PPE from Turkey arrived back in the UK - but only around half of the supplies may have been onboard.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that millions of Brits in their fifties and sixties should be isolating like older people.
Members of the public are also to be told to wear face masks at work and on public transport after scientists told ministers they could help stop the spread of the virus.
It is one measure which could be used to avoid a second wave of the virus when lockdown restrictions are eased.
Robin Shattock of Imperial College said the NHS could be hit badly if the lockdown was relaxed and Covid-19 re-emerged at the same time as the flu.
Give now to The Sun's NHS appeal
BRITAIN’s four million NHS staff are on the frontline in the battle against coronavirus.
But while they are helping save lives, who is there to help them?
The Sun has launched an appeal to raise £1MILLION for NHS workers.
The Who Cares Wins Appeal aims to get vital support to staff in their hour of need.
We have teamed up with NHS Charities Together in their urgent Covid-19 Appeal to ensure the money gets to exactly who needs it.
The Sun is donating £50,000 and we would like YOU to help us raise a million pounds, to help THEM.
No matter how little you can spare, please donate today here
www.
But senior government figures have braced the nation to expect a very long path out of coronavirus restrictions.
A “suck it and see” plan is now being drawn up based on scientists’ data crunching to see what restrictions to try easing first.
One senior figure told The Sun: “We will try a bit at a time, and then pause, so we can see what effect that has on the transmission rate. The pace will be very gradual".
And Tory sources claimed Boris Johnson was resisting calls to end the lockdown early because of his own battle with the virus.
Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff
We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.
We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.
A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”
SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”
We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.
A Conservative MP told that fighting for his life in intensive care had changed the Prime Minister.
They said: “The Prime Minister is in a funny place, I think he's quite frightened.
“His illness and the warning from the doctors has really hit him hard.
“To find himself floored like this has got into his head.
“He has become really tentative.”
Mr Johnson is still not working, but instead getting daily updates from his team.
Mr Johnson had stressed back in March he expected the country to be able to "turn the tide" in 12 weeks.
Now recovering at Chequers after being released from hospital a week ago, the PM is considered one of the “doves” who oppose lifting lockdown early.
MOST READ IN NEWS
He is joined by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who also contracted the virus.
The “hawks” are those more worried about the economic impact of a long-term shutdown and want to ease restrictions sooner.
These are said to include Chancellor Rishi Sunak, the Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove.
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain's best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day - .
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.