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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Abigail O'Leary

UK coronavirus hospital death toll rises by 14 to total of 33,932

The UK coronavirus hospital death toll has risen by 14 to a total of 33,932.

England recorded a further 12 hospital deaths in the last 24 hours and Wales saw an increase of two.

Northern Ireland and Scotland reported no new hospital deaths.

The overall total is slightly down on the 19 recorded in hospitals a week ago on Thursday July 23.

Yesterday the hospital death toll rose by 19 - a sharp increase from a week ago when 11 deaths were recorded.

The figures come after it was reported Boris Johnson is reportedly "extremely concerned" that a second wave of  coronavirus  could hit the UK - within two weeks.

The Prime Minister earlier warned we are seeing "signs of a second wave" of Covid-19 in continental Europe.

A Downing Street source said: "The PM is extremely concerned by what he's seeing abroad and fears we could be seeing the same thing here in a fortnight.

Follow all coronavirus updates on our live blog here

Boris Johnson spoke about his fears of a second wave (BBC News)

"People have got to realise we are still in the middle of a pandemic.", reports the Mail.

Health secretary Matt Hancock said he was "worried" about a second wave and cases are going up in many European countries.

His warning came before Chief Medical Officers confirmed an immediate change to self-isolation rules - extending the time by three days from the previous minimum of 7 days.

The three Covid-19 symptoms to self-isolate for are a persistent cough, fever and change or loss of taste or smell.

Any one of those three symptoms should trigger isolation.

People can be "released" from isolation earlier than 10 days if a Covid-19 test comes back negative.

However, if symptoms persist, patients need to stay at home for longer than 10 days until they recover.

It is understood the decision was taken after medical officers discovered a "low but tangible possibility" that some patients remain infectious more than a week after symptoms begin.

Today's guidance was issued by the four Chief Medical Officers and applies to all four nations of the UK.

10 places in the UK where coronavirus has grown fastest in last 14 days (UKGOV)

It applies only to mild and moderately ill cases in the community - not more serious cases in hospitals and care homes.

It also, crucially, does not apply to people in the same household as someone who has symptoms; recent contacts of a confirmed case; or people who've arrived in the UK from certain countries like Spain.

All those groups of people must still self-isolate for 14 days.

This difference in time is because people who have symptoms are further along in their case of Covid-19. Their contacts may still be incubating the illness, so will remain infectious for longer.

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