The few people out and about in central London were wearing face masks and gloves (Picture: Jonathan Brady/PA)

Another 14 people have died in 24 hours as the UK coronavirus death toll hits 71.

The Department of Health confirmed the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 1,950 today, an increase of 407 infections in just 24 hours. The updated UK death toll was released after the UK’s chief scientific advisor said 20,000 Britons dying from coronavirus would be a ‘good outcome’ in such terrible circumstances.

Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs this ‘best case scenario’ was based on drastic social distancing measures recently introduced in the UK. He said there are currently likely to be 55,000 cases in the country based on scientific estimates.

He said the number of deaths was ‘horrible’ and there would still be a huge amount of strain on the health service from Covid-19.


The Department of Health confirmed 71 people have died and the number of Covid-19 cases rose to 1,950

During a hearing of the Health Select Committee, chairman Jeremy Hunt asked Sir Patrick whether the expected death rate was one fatality for every 1,000 cases, which would mean that there are ‘potentially 55,000 cases’ at present.



Sir Patrick said: ‘We’ve tried to get a handle on that in Sage (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) and if you put all the modelling information together, that’s a reasonable ballpark way of looking at it. It’s not more accurate than that.’

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He said the stringent measures introduced on Monday should ‘have a very significant effect on the peak’ and lead to a reduction in cases and deaths after two to three weeks.

Asked whether it was hoped that deaths could potentially get below 20,000, Sir Patrick said: ‘That is the hope that we can get it down to that. To put that into perspective, every year in seasonal flu the number of deaths is thought to be 8,000.

‘If we can get numbers down to 20,000 and below, that’s a good outcome in terms of where we would hope to get to with this outbreak.

‘But that’s still horrible, it’s still an enormous number of deaths and an enormous pressure on the health service, and having spent 20 years as an NHS consultant as well as an academic, I know what that looks and feels like.’

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NHS England chief executive, Sir Simon Stevens, also told MPs the NHS would be ‘flat out’ helping coronavirus patients for the next four to six months.

He has sent a letter to hospitals telling them to prepare for a big influx of patients requiring ventilation and ordered moves to cancel non-emergency surgery by April 15 at the latest, alongside the discharge of medically fit people to free up beds.

Earlier today, the Foreign Office advised Britons against non-essential travel to anywhere in the world. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the fast-paced nature of the crisis meant it was now necessary to issue global guidance.

The advice takes effect immediately and would last for an initial 30-day period. Mr Raab said: ‘UK travellers abroad now face widespread international border restrictions and lock downs in various countries.

A shopper in Birmingham wears a colourful mask (Picture: SWNS)

‘The speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented. So I have taken the decision to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel.’

The Foreign Office (FCO) said Britons who decide they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so, including the possibility of being stranded overseas if restrictions are put in place.



The Foreign Office is not currently advising British people to immediately return to the UK if they are overseas, except from a few specific countries detailed in travel advice.

But British travellers are urged to bear in mind the prospect of flights being cancelled at short notice or additional restrictions being imposed by the local authorities.

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Oxford Circus in central London is deserted the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, and work from home (Picture: PA)

Mr Raab’s measures come after the European Union announced plans for a 30-day ban on non-residents entering the bloc, restrictions that are not expected to apply to Britons.

Meanwhile, the largest education union in Europe has demanded the Prime Minister closes schools ‘at least for some time and at least in some areas’.

The National Education Union (NEU) said the running of schools will be made ‘all the more complicated’ as they advise teachers and staff who are classed as vulnerable to self-isolate.

Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures on Monday as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19.

What does self-isolation mean? Self-isolation means staying indoors and avoiding all contact with other people for 14 days, according to the NHS. It means no going to work, school, the shops or even to the park for some fresh air, in order to minimise the risk of passing on Covid-19. Public transport and taxis are a no-no and you shouldn’t have visitors over, even if you just stay at home. Anyone in self-isolation is advised to ask friends, family and delivery drivers to pick things up for you and drop them-off. You should put a sign outside telling people you are self-isolating and everything should be left on the floor outside your front door to avoid the risk of further infections. You should leave a sign outside your property if you have to self-isolate (Picture: PA)

Those who are self-isolating are still advised to stay away from their pets as much as possible and to wash their hands before and after touching them. If you live in a house share and have to self-isolate, the advice is to stay in your room with the door closed and only emerge to use communal kitchens, bathrooms and living areas if absolutely necessary. Who should self-isolate? The government advises anyone returning from Category 1 areas (Hubei, Iran, Italy and Daegu or Cheongdo in South Korea), to go straight home and self-isolate, even if they don't display any symptoms. Travellers should use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next. Anyone returning from Category 2 areas should self-isolate and call 111 if they have Covid-19 symptoms. You can find the list of those places here.

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