Coronavirus latest news: Official UK death toll passes 40,000
The UK has surpassed a grim milestone, with more than 40,000 coronavirus related fatalities since the pandemic began, according to figures from the Department for Health and Social Care.
A total of 40,261 people have now died after testing positive with Covid-19, a rise of 357 since yesterday, amid 283,311 infections.
In the early stages of the outbreak, comments from government advisors suggesting that 20,000 deaths would be a "good outcome" were deemed by many as extreme.
It comes as the Government announced all hospital staff and visitors will be to required wear face coverings.
Mandatory face coverings in all hospitals will be enforced from today, with further guidance for NHS staff in England expected by June 15, the health secretary Matt Hancock announced at today's daily briefing.
From now all hospital staff will be required to wear type one or type two surgical masks "in all areas except Covid-secure workplaces." While visitors will be required to cover their faces to reduce the incidents of hospital-based infections, he said.
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