Coronavirus: UK deaths reach 233 after 53 people die in England

A 41-year-old is thought to be youngest UK fatality so far

The coronavirus death toll in the UK has reached 233 after NHS England counted 53 more victims.

A 41-year-old is now believed to have been the youngest virus fatality in the UK. All had underlying health conditions.

The deaths, accompanied by a further two in Wales and one in Scotland, have marked the deadliest day for the virus in the UK since the outbreak began. Northern Ireland’s death toll remains at one.

NHS England said in a statement: “A further 53 people, who tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid-19), have died – bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in England to 220.

“Patients were aged between 41 and 94 years old and all had underlying health conditions.”

The nationwide infection rate continues to escalate, with the Department of Health confirming the number of people to test positive in the UK as of 9am on Saturday stands at 5,018 – up from 3,983 a day earlier.

A total of 72,818 people have been tested, with 67,800 negative results.

Before the increased death toll was confirmed, NHS England announced that it had struck a deal with the country’s independent hospitals to provide thousands more staff and nurses to the public healthcare system amid fears the health service could be overrun by infected people.

Under the agreement, the independent sector will reallocate practically its entire national hospital capacity en bloc to the NHS. It will be reimbursed “at cost” – meaning that it will not make any profit for doing so.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said they were taking “immediate and exceptional action” to gear up to deal with an unprecedented global health threat.

“The NHS is doing everything in its power to expand treatment capacity, and is working with partners right across the country to do so,” he added.

Meanwhile, 65,000 former nurses and doctors have been asked to return to the frontlines of the profession to help treat an anticipated influx of patients.