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LONDON: The UK now has the second highest number of official deaths in Europe from the new coronavirus pandemic, according to new figures on Wednesday (April 29) that cover deaths in all settings, including nursing homes.
Some 26,097 people died across the UK after testing positive for COVID-19 as of April 28 at 1600 GMT, Public Health England (PHE) said. That means the UK has had more COVID-19 deaths than France or Spain have reported.
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“This more comprehensive data will give us a more complete and up-to-date picture of deaths in England and inform the government’s approach as we continue to protect the public,” said Yvonne Doyle, PHE medical director.
Such a high death toll in the UK increases pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government, which faces criticism from opposition parties for being too slow to impose a blockade and too slow to introduce massive evidence.
In mid-March, the government’s top scientific adviser said keeping the death toll in the UK below 20,000 would be a “good result”.
Although international comparisons are difficult, the new figures confirm Britain’s place among the European countries most affected by the pandemic.
Italy, which has the second highest death toll in the world after the United States, said on Wednesday that 27,682 people had died after testing positive for the coronavirus.
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Like Britain, their numbers are based on deaths after positive coronavirus tests in all settings.
Spain reported 24,275 deaths from the coronavirus in the latest count, less than the new number of Britons released on Wednesday. Even so, the population of Spain is approximately 20 million smaller, so it has a higher prevalence of deaths per capita.
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