UK coronavirus death toll jumps by 115 to 578 as confirmed cases rise to 11,658

Coronavirus: the symptoms
Kit Heren27 March 2020

The UK coronavirus death toll has jumped by 115 to 578 while the number of confirmed cases has hit 11,658.

The latest death toll is as of 5pm on March 25, the Department of Health said.

It added that 11,658 people have tested positive in the UK as of 9am on Thursday.

A total of 104,866 people have been tested with 93,208 negative results.

However, figures announced by the Department of Health and individual UK regions differ slightly.

107 more people died in England after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total to 521, the NHS said. The people who died were between 32 and 102.

Meanwhile there were three further deaths in Scotland, six in Wales and three in Northern Ireland.

25 people have died after catching coronavirus in Scotland, 28 in Wales and ten in Northern Ireland - bringing the overall total to 584, rather than 578.

The Department of Health said on Thursday that it had changed the way it reported coronavirus deaths.

The latest figures were from 5pm on 24 March-5pm on 25 March.

The department added in a statement that Tuesday's death tally was from between 9am and 5pm on March 24.

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures

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There were 41 deaths reported in the UK on Tuesday, which brought the total to 365 as of March 24.

The statement continued: “Going forwards, figures on deaths will be recorded for the 24-hour period as of 5pm the previous day.

"Figures on tests remain as of the 24-hour period from 9am that day.”

The news comes as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak unveiled the Government's new plan for self-employed people.

The Government will cover the average of 80 per cent of self-employed people's pay over the last three years - but the money will only be available from the beginning of June at the latest.

It is open to anyone with trading profits of up to £50,000. Mr Sunak said the plan will cover 95 per cent of self-employed people.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak
PA

Meanwhile people who flout lockdown restrictions will face fines of up to £60, Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Wednesday.

Fines will rise to £120 for a second offence and will continue to double for further offences, Ms Patel added.

The new measures come as the Government tries to slow the spread of coronavirus in the UK.

AFP via Getty Images

And there are concerns that the NHS is already stretched.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, told the BBC's Today programme that London hospitals were facing a "continuous tsunami" as demand for critical care continues to rise from coronavirus patients.

The Government has ordered 8,000 ventilators to be produced to help the NHS fight coronavirus, which should be ready in a few weeks.

Dyson said "the race is on" to get a new ventilator created specifically for the coronavirus
Dyson

And British manufacturer Dyson says it has come up with a new ventilator design in just ten days, with 5,000 to be given to the international effort to tackle the virus.

The company is now waiting for regulatory approval before it can begin making the new ventilators.

But the Government was accused on Thursday of putting "Brexit before breathing", as it was revealed that the UK had refused to join with the EU to buy ventilators in bulk to reduce costs.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said: "We can't put Brexit over breathing; lives must come first."

NHS staff have received widespread praise for their efforts in tackling coronavirus.

And many people have promised to take part in a mass round of applause from their windows for the NHS at 8pm on Thursday.

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