The number of people in the United Kingdom who have died after testing positive for COVID-19 has risen once again, the Department of Health confirmed today (March 22).
The death toll rose by 48 people in the 24 hours to 9am - taking the UK total to 281.
A total of 37 of those were in England, with 11 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.
All the 37 people aged between 18 and 102 who died in England after testing positive for coronvirus were in vulnerable groups including with underlying conditions, the NHS said.
They included five deaths at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, four at St. Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and four at Croydon Health NHS Trust - all in South London and Surrey.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has also increased by 665 in one day, the latest figures have confirmed.
The Department of Health announced a total of 5,683 cases of COVID-19 were identified up to 9am on Sunday, from a total of 78,340 tests that had been completed.
That’s a rise of 665 in just 24 hours. The Government said it would announce today’s more detailed figures for Bristol and the West of England area later today.
As of yesterday, Public Health England said the confirmed cases in Bristol went up from 13 to 20.
In Bath and North East Somerset, the number of cases more than doubled in a single day - from five to 11.
There was one extra case in South Gloucestershire - a rise from 13 to 14 - and one more case in North Somerset - from four to five.
The Government announced a ‘shielding’ operation for as many as 1.5 million people who are classified as having long-term health conditions that mean they are the most vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic.
