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Child, 5, becomes UK’s youngest coronavirus victim as 708 more die taking death toll to 4,353
A FIVE-year-old child has become Britain's youngest coronavirus victim as 708 more people lost their lives on the deadliest day yet - bringing the total to 4,353.
The NHS confirmed there were 637 deaths in hospital in England in 24 hours including the young child, who had underlying health conditions.
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The young victim is now believed to be the youngest Covid-19 death in Europe after a 12-year-old girl passed away in Belgium earlier this week.
Previously, Britain's youngest coronavirus victim was "very healthy" 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, who died in hospital in London on Monday.
The NHS confirmed the oldest patient who died in 24 hours was aged 104 and 40 of the latest virus victims had no existing medical issues.
Meanwhile, positive coronavirus cases have today risen from 38,168 to 41,903, the Department of Health revealed.
The new figures from the Department of Health show cases today rose by 3,735 - less than yesterday's rise of 4,450 - suggesting the 'curve' may be flattening out.
Those testing positive for Covid-19 had been rising on average by around 17 per cent per day but today is the first time there has been a drop in the rate of infection.
In Scotland, a further 46 people have died - bringing the total number of deaths to 218.
Wales has reported 13 more deaths - with their total now at 154.
While in Northern Ireland, there have been a further eight deaths - bringing the total to 56.
The Department of Health revealed the number of tests being carried out has actually dropped since yesterday despite promises by the government to ramp it up.
Yesterday, 11,764 tests were carried out yesterday in England - but today just 10,984 tests were done, under the capacity of 12,799 per day.
It comes as Brits were warned not to flout government lockdown advice this weekend as temperatures rocket to 20C.
The UK's chief nurse Ruth May begged people to stay at home in memory of two nurses who lost their lives caring for those with the killer bug.
Aimee O’Rourke, 38, and Areema Nasreen, 36, sadly passed away after treating coronavirus patients on the frontline.
Two other healthcare assistants have also died in the last two days - with nine medics in total now killed by the virus.
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Ms May told the nation: "This weekend is going to be very warm and it’s going to be very tempting to go out and enjoy those rays but I ask you to remember Aimee and Areema, please stay at home for them."
Yesterday, the UK death toll yesterday overtook China and Iran's official tallies after 684 more people died.
Based on figures released by both countries' governments, Britain's total death toll of 3,645 is now 319 higher than China where the outbreak started.
And the latest deaths put Britain higher than Iran's official death toll of 3,294.
The figures for both countries have been posted on the John Hopkins University website but their governments have been accused of hiding the true numbers of deaths.
But the true death toll for Britain is actually higher after it was revealed on Tuesday coronavirus had killed another 40 people outside hospital up to March 20.
The UK's peak is now expected to hit on Easter Sunday with around 1,000 deaths a day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned.
Senior government adviser Professor Neil Ferguson today said coronavirus lockdown could last until the end of May - with the pandemic levelling out in the next ten days.
But he warned a high level of infection will last for "weeks" if Brits break social distancing rules this weekend.
Professor Ferguson also said he was "hopeful" the drastic lockdown measures could be relaxed in a few weeks' time to make way for rapid access to testing.
But he warned the new "regime" would still "not be normal life" and would only work once positive cases are lower.
Prof Ferguson added: "We want to move to a situation where at least by the end of May that we're able to substitute some less intensive measures, more based on technology and testing, for the complete lockdown we have now."
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