UK announces new coronavirus death toll

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England, Scotland and Wales announce just 350 new coronavirus deaths taking UK’s total death toll to 20,753

  • The preliminary figure has yet to be confirmed by the Department of Health, which provides an official tally
  • England declared 329 more COVID-19 deaths, Scotland 13 and Wales 8. Northern Ireland has yet to declare
  • The daily death toll is known to drop on Sundays and Mondays because of a recording lag in NHS hospitals
  • But the sharp fall adds to evidence that the peak of the UK’s crisis has gone, with April 8 the deadliest day
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Stephen Matthews Health Editor For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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The UK today announced 350 more coronavirus deaths, taking Britain’s total death toll past 21,000 as the Prime Minister Boris Johnson today admitted we are near the ‘end of the first phase’ of COVID-19. 

The preliminary figure – not yet confirmed by the Department of Health – would be the lowest daily death count since March 30. 

England today declared 329 more COVID-19 deaths, Scotland 13 and Wales eight. Northern Ireland has yet to release its daily update. 

Although the statistics are known to drop following the weekend, the sharp fall adds to evidence that the peak of the UK’s epidemic has blown over.

The daily death toll is 22 per cent lower than the 449 coronavirus deaths announced last Monday and more than half the 717 declared on April 13. 

In other developments to Britain’s coronavirus crisis today: 

  • NHS doctors have been issued an urgent alert about a sharp rise in the number of children being admitted to intensive care with a serious ‘inflammatory syndrome’ that may be linked to coronavirus;
  • Boris Johnson announced his comeback with a plea for Britons to stick to coronavirus lockdown rules – amid mounting signs the public is starting to take matters into its own hands by getting back to work;
  • Economists warned the UK could take years to recover the ground it has lost, and taxpayers will be footing the bill for the government’s bailouts for decades;
  • A partial membership list of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) which informs the Government’s coronavirus response is to be published after concerns about a lack of transparency;
  • Ministers have insisted the 100,000-a-day target for coronavirus tests can be met this week despite the current level languishing at around 29,000.