THE UK's coronavirus death toll today passed 15,000 as 888 people died in a single day with 114,217 infected.
The sobering figure is one of the biggest daily jumps as the country desperately tries to tackle the deadly bug's spread.
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In 24 hours, 784 deaths in England were confirmed including patients between 26 and 100-years-old.
Among those claimed by the disease was a 44-year-old with no underlying health conditions.
Health authorities confirmed as of 5pm yesterday, 114,217 people had tested positive for the bug, up by 5,525 in one day across the UK.
Brits will remain in lockdown for another three weeks to slow the spread of coronavirus – with the UK government reportedly two weeks away from announcing how the country will emerge from the drastic measures.
And ministers have been accused of "treating the public like children" after refusing to discuss the exit strategy from lockdown.
Tory former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith told the Times: "The Government is going to have to accept and admit we are coming out of lockdown.
"We need to trust the British people and not treat them like children. We must respect their common sense. They need to know that the sun is rising at some point in an economic sense."
There has been growing pressure on the government to outline its plan, with economic paralysis wreaking havoc on jobs and businesses.
Around a million out-of-work Brits have tried to claim Universal Credit since the shutdown started last month.
Two in three construction firms are set to fold by June unless the government steps in to help, with firms begging for clarity amid confusion on when the lockdown will end.
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Coronavirus has particularly hit care homes, with fears the number of deaths in the facilities could be as high as 7,500.
The figures lie in stark contrast to official data from the Office for National Statistics, which so far indicates there were just 217 care home deaths registered up until April 3.
Meanwhile, all Brits have been urged to wear face masks by London Mayor Sadiq Khan yesterday – despite there not being enough for frontline carers.
His demand fuelled confusion and goes against global advice.
And a worldwide shortage of personal protective equipment means it would be almost impossible to supply the UK’s 66million population anyway.
Mr Khan also suggested people should rely on “non-medical” masks if social distancing is not possible.
He said that could include using bandanas or scarves. He was backed by fellow Labour mayor, Liverpool’s Steve Rotherham.
But the pair’s call risked a major backlash from unions, who warn that hospital staff are facing a daily battle to find the PPE they need.
World Health Organisation official guidance says people need only to wear masks if they have Covid-19 symptoms or are caring for someone who does.
And it adds: “WHO advises rational use of medical masks to avoid unnecessary wastage of precious resources.”
And it emerged last night that NHS will have to treat coronavirus patients without full-length gowns with hospital set to run out within hours.
Public Health England is set to tell frontline staff to wear a flimsy plastic apron when gowns have run out – which could lead to more hero healthcare workers contracting the virus.
The guidance will be a U-turn on existing advice which told NHS staff that full-length waterproof surgical gowns should be worn for all high-risk hospital procedures, The Guardian revealed.
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