UK COVID-19 Death Toll Hits 20,733 as New Cases and Care Home Outbreaks Rise
The UK’s coronavirus crisis deepens with the latest death toll hitting 20,733 as new fatalities continue to mount across the nations. England alone reported 336 new deaths, pushing its total to 18,420. Scotland saw 47 fresh fatalities, raising its total to 1,249, while Northern Ireland recorded 16 new deaths taking its total to 294. Wales reported 14 new deaths, sending its total to 788.
Scotland Faces Rising Challenges in ICU and Care Homes
In Scotland, 18 new deaths were announced today. There are currently 133 patients in intensive care units battling the virus. Ambulance services handled 1,571 callouts, with 351 suspected Covid-19 cases. Of those, 208 were taken to hospital.
Calls to NHS 111 and the Coronavirus Helpline in Scotland remain high, with 7,368 total calls to 111, though not all relate to Covid-19. Meanwhile, 600 patients experienced hospital delays, a drop of 1,012 since early March—smashing initial targets to reduce patient hold-ups.
Care Homes in Crisis: Over One-Third Facing Outbreaks
Care homes continue to suffer, with 384 (35%) currently experiencing suspected Covid-19 outbreaks. In total, 2,690 suspected cases have been recorded in care homes, with 69 new cases reported in just one day. Nearly half of all adult care homes (529) have reported at least one Covid-19 case to inspectors, though not all outbreaks remain active.
NHS Workforce Absences and Hospital Discharges
The NHS workforce feels the strain—7,602 staff (about 4.3%) are off sick or isolating due to Covid-19 related issues. On the flip side, 2,360 Covid-positive patients have been discharged since early March, including 33 more than the previous day.
