Paramedics are pictured carrying oxygen tanks into ambulances outside the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London today
England, Scotland and Wales have declared 434 more deaths caused by the coronavirus today, taking the UK’s total to 5,368.
England accounted for 403 of the fatalities while Scotland and Wales independently declared 31 extra deaths in the past 24 hours.
The statistics are a ray of hope as the daily death count has fallen for the second day in a row and was today the lowest it has been since March 31, when it was 381.
However, numbers recorded on Sundays and published on Mondays have, since the outbreak in the UK began, been routinely followed by an upward surge on Tuesday.
The Department of Health’s all-UK roundup is expected to be published this afternoon.
Scotland was the first to declare new cases today, with 255 new positive tests and just four new deaths, taking its totals to 222 and 3,961.
Wales declared a further 302 cases and 27 more deaths, meaning it has now had 3,499 positive tests and 193 people have died.
NHS England revealed 403 more deaths have been recorded in its hospitals, among people aged between 35 and 106. All but 15 of them had other health problems.
The majority of the deaths happened in London again, with a total of 129, followed by 75 in the Midlands, 67 in the North East and Yorkshire, 44 in the East of England, 43 in the North West, 27 in the South West and 18 in the South East.
Today’s statistics come as Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in hospital after being admitted in central London last night because he has had a fever for so long.
The PM’s spokesman said he is still ‘under observation’ and refused to say whether he has been diagnosed with pneumonia.
But he insisted Mr Johnson is in ‘good spirits’ and still in contact with aides.
The 55-year-old was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital, which is near Downing Street, last night after doctors raised alarm that his temperature still not subsided 10 days after his positive test.
There are warnings from ministers that he has ‘risked his health’ by keeping up a frantic work rate, while one senior Tory said he must learn he is ‘not indispensable’ and has to rest.
Boris Johnson (pictured on Downing Street clapping NHS staff on April 2) has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus
One MP suggested that he was too keen to emulate his hero, Winston Churchill by defying illness.
No 10 has insisted it was not an emergency admission and the premier remains in control of the government’s response, despite staying in hospital with no clear time-frame for being discharged.
However, his effective deputy Dominic Raab chaired the daily coronavirus crisis committee meeting this morning, and full Cabinet tomorrow has been postponed.
Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘Last night, on the advice of my doctor, I went into hospital for some routine tests as I’m still experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
‘I’m in good spirits and keeping in touch with my team, as we work together to fight this virus and keep everyone safe.
‘I’d like to say thank you to all the brilliant NHS staff taking care of me and others in this difficult time. You are the best of Britain.
‘Stay safe everyone, and please remember to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.’
Experts say there is a risk of pneumonia when a temperature lasts more than a week. There have been claims Mr Johnson has been coughing heavily during conference calls.
The PM’s spokesman declined to say whether he had pneumonia, although they dismissed claims emanating from Russia that he is on a ventilator as ‘disinformation’.
Asked if symptoms are ‘mild’ – the word previously used to describe them – the spokesman instead said they were ‘persistent’ and included a ‘a temperature and a cough’.
‘The Prime Minister was admitted to hospital for tests last night, his symptoms have remained persistent,’ the spokesman said.
‘He had a comfortable night in St Thomas’s Hospital in London and is in good spirits. He remains in hospital under observation.’
It emerged at the weekend that Mr Johnson’s pregnant partner Carrie Symonds has also been suffering coronavirus, although she is now ‘on the mend’.
The government’s chief medical adviser Chris Whitty has also recovered in a glimmer of good news.
Hopes are rising across Europe now that governments’ drastic lockdown measures are working.
Italy yesterday recorded a
More than 50,000 patients infected with coronavirus have now died across Europe, figures have revealed.
Almost 700,000 cases have been recorded across the continent, with Italy, Spain and Germany the three hardest-hit nations.
But outbreaks among the countries appear to have plateaued, with Italy yesterday recording its lowest daily death toll (525) since March 20.
Spain today announced its lowest daily toll since March 24 (637), while Germany announced just 92 fatalities – the fewest in a week.
More than 37,000 deaths have been recorded between Italy (15,877), Spain (13,055) and France (8,078).
In comparison, Germany has only recorded 1,434 deaths among its 90,000 cases – because of its aggressive policy to test anyone with symptoms.
Many European countries, such as the UK, controversially resorted to just testing patients in hospital, potentially missing millions of cases.
Spain today announced its lowest daily coronavirus death toll since March 24 (637)
While Germany today announced just 92 fatalities – the fewest victims in a week
Italy yesterday recorded its lowest daily coronavirus death toll (525) since March 20
Almost 700,000 cases have been recorded across the continent, with Italy, Spain and Germany the three hardest-hit nations
Germany saw sharp falls in both its daily death toll and its new infection count today, offering fresh hope that the coronavirus lockdown there is working.
The number of infections rose by 3,677 – the smallest since March 22 – to bring the overall tally from 91,714 to 95,391.
Meanwhile the death toll jumped by only 92, the lowest in a week, taking the total from 1,342 to 1,434.
The resulting fatality rate of 1.5 per cent remains lower than many of Germany’s neighbours, although it has risen every day for more than two weeks.
The two southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg – closest to Italy – have been hardest hit, accounting for 824 of the 1,434 deaths between them.
Elsewhere, Spain today recorded 637 new coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours – the fourth straight day that number has fallen and the lowest since March 24.
The figure raises the total killed during the country’s crisis from 12,418 to 13,055. The number of new infections increased by 4,273 from 130,759 to 135,032.
It marks a 3.3 per cent rise in new cases and a 5.1 per cent rise in new deaths, the lowest rate of increase since lockdown measures were announced on March 14.
Italy has also announced plans for ending its lockdown after the coronavirus-ravaged country last night recorded its lowest daily death toll for more than two weeks.
The country recorded another 525 deaths, taking its total to 15,887 – the highest of any country in the world – however, this marked its lowest daily increase since the 427 registered on March 19.
Furthermore, the number of people in intensive care (3,977), fell by 17 since Friday, and the number of cases rose to 128,948 from yesterday’s 124,632 – up 4,316.
However, this represented a lower increase than the day before when the country saw 4,805 new infections.