LONDON: Britain on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to confirm more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths and it surpassed Italy as Europe’s hardest-hit nation. According to figures supplied by the government, 28,734 people had died in UK hospitals and nursing homes. Italy has reported 29,079 fatalities.
However, tallies from both the countries are likely to be underestimated because these only include people who tested positive and testing was not widespread in Italian and British nursing homes until recently.
Weekly figures from Britain’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) added more than 7,000 deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 24, raising the total for the United Kingdom to 32,313. The statistics, which go up to April 24, show that deaths were a third higher than the government count.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson plans to soon detail a route out of the nationwide lockdown that began March 23. His Conservative government is facing mounting criticism over the country’s high death toll.
Many European countries that have relaxed strict lockdowns after new infections tapered off were watching their virus numbers warily.
In the US, some states began halting steps to lift the lockdown restrictions being blamed for throwing millions out of work even as thousands of new infections and deaths were being reported daily in the US.
Widely seen as a success story, South Korea reported only three new cases of the virus, its lowest total since February 18. Schools will be reopened in phased steps, starting with high school seniors on May 13, but the on highlight Tuesday was the baseball season.
Countries in the Asia-Pacific region have also suppressed their outbreaks, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, which has had zero new cases for two days.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said overcoming the pandemic will require massive public health effort in history since it is an interconnected world where “none of us is safe until all of us are safe”. His remarks came as the world leaders pledged $8.2 billion to support the research.