Two patients in London, both with underlying health conditions, have died after testing positive for coronavirus, NHS England said.
Ten people have now died in the UK after contracting coronavirus, and the latest figures published by the Department of Health and Social Care state that as of 9am on Thursday 590 people had tested positive for the virus – jumping by 134 in 24 hours.
The rise in confirmed cases in the UK from 456 to 590 is the largest day-on-day increase since the outbreak began.
It is a jump of 134, which is 29% up on the equivalent figure for Wednesday.
It is also the first time the day-on-day increase has been in three figures.
A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said: “We can confirm that, sadly, an 89-year-old patient who was very unwell with underlying health conditions has passed away at Charing Cross Hospital.
“The patient had tested positive for coronavirus. Our thoughts and condolences are with the patient’s family.”
Tony Chambers, interim chief executive, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We can confirm that a patient, who was in her sixties, and who tested positive for COVID-19 has sadly died at Queen’s hospital.
“She had been very unwell with significant other health conditions.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the patient’s family at what is undoubtedly a very distressing time. We ask that the family’s privacy is respected”.
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