UK coronavirus hospital death toll rises by 449 in lowest increase for two weeks

Over 16,500 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, the department for health has confirmed - an increase of 449 in the last 24 hours.

In the latest update provided by the government 4,676 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the outbreak to 124,473.

The number of newly reported deaths, while often a reduced figure after a weekend, is the lowest seen by the UK since 9 April - and follows a cautious optimism among scientific and medical officials over the trajectory of the virus in the country.

Professor James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute, and University of Oxford, said: “Although we have clearly passed the peak of the announced hospital deaths in this first wave, 449 deaths can never be thought of as any other than very sad news.

"The UK has been one of the hardest hit countries in this first wave and we still have to add in deaths from care homes and wider community. It is urgent that we learn what can be applied here so we do better".

And Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, chair of the Winton Centre for Risk and Evidence Communication, at the University of Cambridge said that evidence from NHS England suggested "We are in a steadily, but rather slowly, improving position since the peak of deaths 12 days ago on 8 April", adding, "But, judging from the experience in Italy, this could be a lengthy process."

On Sunday Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer said at the dailt Downing Street press briefing that “It is fair to say that we do know from the hospital data… that we are now starting to plateau”,

However she fell short of agreeing with the view of Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of medical research charity Wellcome Trust and an adviser to the government, who said the country may be “past the peak” of the outbreak.

Instead Dr Harries urged observers to be “extremely guarded” about viewing the peak as finished - while reiterating the need for social distancing measures to be maintained.