BFF-37 UK virus death toll climbs 616 to 18,738: health ministry

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BFF-37

HEALTH-VIRUS-BRITAIN-TOLL

UK virus death toll climbs 616 to 18,738: health ministry

LONDON, April 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Britain’s health ministry on Thursday said 616 more people had died after testing positive for COVID-19 in hospital, taking the country’s overall death toll to 18,738.

The figure, for the 24-hour period to 1600 GMT on Wednesday, was less than the 759 reported the previous day, after government claims the virus had hit its peak and as debate grows about easing lockdown measures.

BSS/AFP/ARS/2020 hrs