DEATH SPIKE
UK coronavirus deaths pass 1,000 as at least 13 healthy adults among 260 to die in biggest 24-hour jump
THE UK coronavirus death toll has risen to 1,019 after 260 people died in the last 24 hours - with at least 13 of them being healthy adults.
There are currently 17,089 in Britain who have tested positive for Covid-19.
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It is the biggest surge in coronavirus deaths the UK has seen so far - up from yesterday's tally of 759.
Yesterday, the UK's total death toll rose by 181.
It is hoped that the UK's current lockdown measures could help reduce the surging death rate from an eventual 260,000 people to 5,700.
But a top government adviser has now warned Britain must remain in lockdown until June to see the full effect.
Even when the strict rules are lifted, schools and universities may remain shut until autumn with workers told to stay at home still and not travel to continue practising social distancing.
Professor Neil Ferguson told The Sunday Times: "We're going to have to keep these measures (the full lockdown) in place, in my view, for a significant period of time - probably until the end of May, maybe even early June. May is optimistic."
GRIM TALLY
NHS England announced that 246 more people who tested positive with Covid-19 had died in England.
Patients were aged between 33 and 100 years old and all but 13 patients had underlying health conditions.
It brings the total number of deaths in England to 935.
Public Health Wales recorded four more deaths in Wales, bringing the country's overall death toll to 38.
In Scotland, 40 people have now died from the disease - up from 33 yesterday.
There are currently 1,093 confirmed Covid-19 cases in Wales and 1,245 cases in Scotland.
Two more deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland on Saturday with 49 new positive cases confirmed.
It brings Northern Ireland's total coronavirus death toll to 15, with 324 confirmed cases of the deadly bug.
Statisticians at Imperial College London have calculated that the UK can avoid 260,000 deaths if it keeps on the same path seen in China.
It comes as:
- Ireland tightens its lockdown measures
- Hundreds of Brits left stranded on coronavirus cruise
- Thousands of Brits flock to parks and beaches during lockdown
- Chancellor Rishi Sunak will 'save 1.5million jobs'
- Army transforms London's ExCel Centre into a 4,000 bed field hospital
- Boris Johnson vows to run the country from home
But the strict lockdown laws have had devastating effects for Brits across the UK.
According to the think tank Policy Exchange, one in six people — 5.3 million — have jobs heavily exposed to the crisis.
And more than one million are set to lose their jobs completely.
Giving a ray of hope, forecasters said that Chancellor Rishi Sunak's bailouts could save 1.5 million jobs.
It comes as workers and the self-employed forced to stay home can claim up to £2,500 a month from the state.
CORONA CABINET
The government itself came under increased pressure yesterday, as the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary both tested positive for the deadly bug.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also said he was suffering symptoms, adding that he would self-isolate as a precaution.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
“The test was carried out in No 10 by NHS staff and the result of the test was positive.
“In keeping with the guidance, the Prime Minister is self-isolating in Downing Street."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced just hours later that he too had the virus.
On Friday night, Ireland enforced a two week lockdown, meaning everyone must stay at home unless they are doing essential work, buying food, visiting a doctor, leaving for farming purposes, caring for someone, or exercising within 2km of their homes.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced: "For a two week period until Easter Sunday everyone must stay at home.
"Unless they need to travel to and from work, only where the work is an essential service that cannot be done from home."
Meanwhile, in London, the Army have been transforming the capital's ExCel Centre into a 4,000 bed field hospital.
London is the worst hit with the virus so far, with hospitals already struggling to cope with the influx of patients.
To tackle the killer virus the huge building - usually used for exhibitions, conferences and sporting events - will temporarily be known as the NHS Nightingale - complete with ventilators and oxygen.
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