684 patients die in UK hospitals as growth rate slows

There have been a further 684 coronavirus-related deaths in UK hospitals, the Department of Health has said. 684

That takes the total number of COVID-19 patients to have died in UK hospitals to 19,506.

The growth rate of the disease continues to slow – it would now take 17 days for deaths to double as opposed to six days over the Easter weekend.

Earlier, NHS England confirmed another 587 people who had tested positive for coronavirus in hospitals have died.

Those who died were aged between 40 and 107, and the majority had underlying health conditions.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 64 more deaths of COVID-19 patients had been recorded by Friday, bringing the total to 1,184.

Wales announced its biggest daily increase so far, with 110 new deaths recorded. This is in part because it reported its figures later than usual and has revised its total to include 84 previously not counted cases.

Northern Ireland has not yet confirmed how many more people have died in the last 24 hours.

According to each home nation’s authorities, the number of deaths in hospitals now stands at:

England – 17,373

Scotland – 1,184

Wales – 751

Health authorities in the four UK nations record their own daily figures, which may not tally with the government’s overall UK total as they collate their numbers at different times throughout the day.

Key workers who suspect they have coronavirus are now able to book tests online.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the new system at yesterday’s daily press briefing, saying it was “all part of getting Britain back on her feet”.

But users have struggled to access the system today after it temporarily closed following huge demand.

Within hours of the site going live, users were met with the message to “check back later“. Earlier, the website had also displayed the message that Friday’s allocation of home-testing kits had already been reached.

In Wales, the government has tightened its lock down measures.

The change will make it clear that people who go out for essential reasons must return straight home afterwards.

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At the same time, some rules will be relaxed slightly to help vulnerable people.

The definition of vulnerable people is being expanded and will now include dementia sufferers and others who need more support.

“Click and collect” services will also be allowed to open from the weekend.