CRISIS LAID BARE
UK coronavirus death toll jumps to 26,097 as figures now include care homes and non-hospital fatalities
THE true UK coronavirus death toll now stands at 26,097, new figures revealed today.
It is a rise of 4,419 on yesterday’s tally - with figures now combined to include deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community for the first time since the crisis began.
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Today's updated figures do not mean a rise in 4,419 deaths in 24 hours - but instead include non-hospital deaths backdated to March 2.
Speaking in today's daily coronavirus briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab confirmed 765 of the new deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours.
He added that the new overall tally includes an additional 3,811 deaths backdated to the start of the outbreak.
Until now, the daily reported figures have only included the number of people who have died in hospitals.
Raab said today's updated total doesn't "represent a sudden surge in deaths" - but instead helps us measure our toll against other countries' tally.
The government's new graphic showing deaths 'in all settings' - hospitals, care homes and the wide community - is to give the "most comprehensive picture".
Of the new figures, Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at PHE, said: “Every death from COVID-19 is a tragedy. Tracking the daily death count is vital to help us understand the impact of the disease.
“These more complete data will give us a fuller and more up to date picture of deaths in England and will inform the government’s approach as we continue to protect the public.
She added: "We are tracking much more alongside our European neighbours".
WHY MIGHT THE UK'S GRIM DEATH TOLL NOT BE AS BAD AS IT SEEMS?
- The UK's death toll jumped from 21,678 yesterday to 26,097 today after the inclusion of care home deaths, putting the country above France and Spain but just behind Italy in total fatalities.
- Britain now appears to have leap-frogged France, which has recorded 23,660 deaths, and Spain, which has had 24,275 deaths, to be just behind Italy, which is on 27,682.
- But it is impossible to truly compare each country due to differing sizes, differing recording methods and the different pandemic timelines.
- The UK is behind the mainland Europe outbreak by a few weeks, and while it looks like Britain has a higher death toll than France, Spain and Italy did at the same point - the different country sizes are important to note.
In total, 165,221 people have now tested positive for covid-19 in the UK – an increase of 4,076 on yesterday’s number.
Mr Raab assured Brits today: "We are coming through the peak, but we are not there yet".
The Foreign Secretary stressed we must do what we can to avoid a second spike of the bug, adding that it would be "harmful to public health" and lead to more deaths as well as a second lockdown.
He added: "That wouldn't just be economically dangerous but inflict a serious blow to public confidence."
He did so after congratulating the Prime Minister on the birth of his newborn son today.
It comes as:
- Kids face long delays before schools return
- Cancer deaths could rocket by 18,000 with treatments delayed
- Deaths in care homes soar
- Nurse begs 'don't let me die' in coronavirus diary
- OAP couple die from covid-19 hours apart as husband refuses treatment
- Boris Johnson returns to Downing Street after welcoming newborn son
Among the latest deaths is dad-of-two Mehool Patel, a 48-year-old pharmicist who owned Bliss Chemist in North London.
He was described by friends as ";one in a million" who ";would do anything for his patients".
Two brothers, Ghulam Abbass, 59, and Raza Ghulam, 53, also died beside each other in hospital after contracting the bug - just three weeks after their dad passed away.
Today the number of coronavirus deaths in England rose to 19,746, NHS England confirmed today.
The youngest patient was a 14-year-old with no underlying health conditions, while the oldest was 101.
It is the lowest daily rise in deaths recorded in England on a Wednesday throughout April.
In Scotland, 1,415 patients have now died in hospitals from the killer bug - up 83 since yesterday.
According to new data, the true figure is much higher, with more than half of Scotland's coronavirus deaths now happening in care homes.
Figures from National Records Scotland (NRS), showed that the actual toll is as high as 2,272 and that 338 of the 656 deaths recorded between 20 and 26 April were in care homes.
In Wales, the total death toll is now 886 after 73 more deaths were announced today.
And another 31 people have died due to coronavirus with 376 more cases diagnosed in Ireland, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said
According to the Office for National Statistics, 3,096 people died in care homes from the virus in the week up to April 17, - treble the week before when 1,043 deaths were registered.
It means a third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are now happening in care homes.
Meanwhile, cancer deaths could rocket by 18,000 as scientists warn patients avoid medical services during the coronavirus outbreak.
NHS research shows the crisis is making half of sick Brits think twice before getting checked.
The global pandemic has also caused uncertainty about the education of millions across the UK.
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MOST READ IN NEWS
It was confirmed today that some kids could face long delays before they are back in the classroom full time - as schools will return in a “phased way”.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said this morning that no date has been set for when schools are back up and running fully.
And he confirmed that schools, which have been shut since March 18, will not open through the summer to help kids catch up on the classes they have lost in the crisis.
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Education Secretary Gavin Williamson says schools will reopen in 'phases' to ensure pupils and staff have enough protection to avoid coronavirus
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