Coronavirus death toll in Preston hits double figures

NHS England figures show 10 people had died in hospital at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as of 5pm on Thursday (April 2).

That was an increase of two compared to Wednesday, when there were eight.They were among 365 deaths recorded across the North West​.

​Of the 20 trusts across the North West, the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals trust has the ​14th highest death toll.

Daily death counts are revised each day, with each case backdated to the actual date of death.

This means some of the deaths that were first recorded in the last 24 hours may actually have taken place days earlier.

NHS England guidance states: "Confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis, death notification and reporting in central figures can take up to several days and the hospitals providing the data are under significant operational pressure."

Only deaths that occur in hospitals where the patient has tested positive for Covid-19 are recorded, with deaths in the community excluded, such as those in care homes.

Across England, the death toll hit 3,302 on Thursday, up from 2,695.

Separate figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show 38,168 people had tested positive for Covid-19 across the UK as of 9am on Thursday, up from 33,718 on Wednesday.

The Queen is to address the nation on Sunday delivering a message about the coronavirus outbreak, Buckingham Palace has said.

Expectation has been growing about when the head of state would make a public statement about the unprecedented events that have seen the country go into lockdown to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "Her Majesty The Queen has recorded a special broadcast to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus outbreak. The televised address will be broadcast at 8pm on Sunday.

"The address was recorded at Windsor Castle."

In the message the Queen is likely to praise the efforts of health workers and all those who have been helping in the fight against Covid-19 and offer reassurance to the nation during this unsettling period.

The Prince of Wales offered his own message of hope to the country earlier this week when he recorded a video after coming out of isolation following a positive test for Covid-19.

He said: "As a nation, we are faced by a profoundly challenging situation, which we are only too aware threatens the livelihoods, businesses and welfare of millions of our fellow citizens.

"None of us can say when this will end, but end it will. Until it does, let us all try and live with hope and, with faith in ourselves and each other, look forward to better times to come."