The United Kingdom’s death toll from the new virus that originated in China rose nearly 25 percent in one day, authorities announced on Thursday.
All patients but 44 had underlying health conditions, National Health Service England said. COVID-19 causes more severe cases and deaths in people with such conditions or the elderly than those in other groups.
Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, told reporters that one of the deaths this week was a 13-year-old patient.
The number of patients testing positive in the country rose to 33,718 overnight, an increase of 4,244 from the day prior. Over 163,000 people have been tested as of 9 a.m. on April 2. The number of people hospitalized in England rose to 10,767, including over 3,000 in London, Sharma said.
The UK is in lockdown, with people ordered to only go outside for food, health reasons, or work if they cannot work from home and are a key worker.
The CCP virus spreads between people, prompting officials around the world to order nationals to largely stay at home.
“When we reduce our day-to-day contact with other people, we will reduce the spread of the infection,” the UK government says on its website about the March 23 lockdown orders.
Authorities have been given authority to enforce orders through fines of £60 ($74).
Preventative measures recommended for the virus include frequently washing hands, avoiding sick people, and wearing a mask and gloves when leaving home.
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