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FATAL SURGE
THE UK coronavirus death toll has risen to 759 after 181 more deaths were recorded in one day - meaning a Brit is dying every EIGHT minutes.
On Friday, 168 deaths were recorded in England along with eight deaths in Scotland, six deaths in Wales and three deaths in Northern Ireland.
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The youngest person to die in England was just 29 years old - and four of the patients had no underlying health conditions.
Yesterday's death toll is the UK's biggest 24 hour increase so far - higher than Thursday's jump of 113.
The worrying figure means a Brit is dying every eight minutes after testing positive for the killer bug.
It comes as 14,579 are infected with Covid-19 in Britain - an increase of 2,921 since Thursday.
The total number of deaths announced by health authorities in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales add up to 769.
However, the official Department of Health figures appear slightly lower (759) - this is because their tally was taken up until 5pm on Thursday.
The Department of Health's official figures rose by 181 up from 578 the previous night.
DEADLY SURGE
Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon said that the number of people who had tested positive for Covid-19 in Scotland had risen by 165 from Thursday's total, from 894 to 1059.
The First Minister added that 72 patients with coronavirus symptoms are in intensive care units, while Scotland's chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood estimated more than 65,000 Scots will currently have the bug.
In Scotland, the total number of people to have died from coronavirus now sits at 33, while in England the death toll is 689.
Northern Ireland recorded three more deaths, bringing its total death toll to 13.
Public Health Wales recorded an additional six deaths in Wales, bringing the country's total to 34.
In Gwent, South Wales, the number of fatalities is said to be "mirroring Italy," as the region records 358 cases so far - the highest concentration of confirmed infections per 100,000 people outside London and almost half of Wales' total cases.
CORONA CABINET
It comes as both the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary test positive for the deadly bug.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty also said he was suffering symptoms, adding that he would self-isolate as a precaution.
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty.
“The test was carried out in No 10 by NHS staff and the result of the test was positive.
“In keeping with the guidance, the Prime Minister is self-isolating in Downing Street."
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced just hours later that he too had the virus.
It comes as:
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus
- A GP becomes the first British doctor thought to die from coronavirus
- Lockdown measures "could last six months"
- Coronavirus deaths in Wales' Gwent region 'mirror Italy's'
- A mum issued a heartbreaking warning after her baby son contracted the bug
- A 16-year-old girl with no underlying medical conditions died from the bug in France
At the same time, the death toll for the UK soared by over 100 people for the first time, with 113 deaths in 24 hours.
Among them was GP Habib Zaidi, believed to have become the first British doctor to die after contracting coronavirus.
Dr Zaidi, 76, died at Southend Hospital in Essex 24 hours after being taken ill on Tuesday.
Tests had not confirmed whether the doctor had the deadly bug, but according to his daughter he was being treated as a "definitive case".
Meanwhile, health experts fear that NHS staff across the country who have coronavirus but display no symptoms are infecting patients.
Doctors are concerned the workers are becoming "part of the problem", citing a lack of masks, gloves and visors to stop them from becoming infected and then possibly passing it on.
Dr Zaidi had not seen any patients for a week before he died as he was self isolating - but the GP could have been infecting his patients up to 12 days before he displayed any symptoms.
Hospitals throughout the UK are now overwhelmed by the deadly bug.
London's ExCel Centre is being transformed into a 4,000-bed field hospital to help manage the influx of patients.
On Thursday night, people across the UK applauded medics, pharmacists, carers and volunteers dealing with the outbreak.
Videos of grateful Brits swept the internet, with the Beckhams, Prince Charles and Daniel Craig among those 'clapping for carers'.
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Boris Johnson confirms he has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating