BRITAIN'S death toll has now risen to 244 today – as the total number of cases jumps to 5,132.

The UK has seen the amount of people infected with the killer bug quadruple in just five days.

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Seven more people died in Wales, and three more have been killed from the bug in Scotland, while another elderly patient has now died in Northern Ireland.

As the UK total rises, Wales has 351 positive cases while Scotland is tackling 416 infected people.

It was revealed yesterday a 41-year-old died after contracting the disease, becoming the UK's youngest victim.

In the biggest 24-hour leap yet, 56 new deaths were recorded for the whole of the country yesterday – with today's overall UK figures yet to be announced.

It comes after Boris Johnson said without "drastic action" cases will double every five to six days.

Today letters to around 1.5million of Britain's most vulnerable have been sent out by the government – telling them to stay at home to save their lives.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed this morning thousands at risk of not recovering from coronavirus have officially been told to stay in for 12 weeks.

BRITAIN BATTLES THE BUG

A fit mum aged 28 struck down by coronavirus today hopes her suffering will act as a warning to youngsters — telling them: “It felt like the devil was inside me.” 

Nurses in protective gear hooked up Jamie Baggett to an oxygen tank in an isolation room less than a week after coming down with a chest infection.

Jamie told The Sun: “I didn’t travel abroad or even come into contact with anyone I knew to have the virus.

“I’m generally fit, I go to the gym quite a lot, I eat healthily and I enjoy my spin classes. But the symptoms escalated quickly.”

Brits have been begged to practise social distancing to stop the virus from spreading to those at risk of becoming seriously unwell.

Experts say that older people and those with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to the deadly bug, which has infected at least 5,000 in the UK.

The only way to think about this is a war, where we look at what the entire resources of the nation are and how we can best deploy those to save lives.

Today PM Boris Johnson told Sun readers not to visit their mum's on Mothering Sunday, writing: "I know that everyone’s strongest instinct is to go and see their mother in person, to have a meal together, to show them how much you love them.

"But I am afraid that this Mothering Sunday, the single best present that we can give — we who owe our mothers so much — is to spare them the risk of catching a very dangerous disease.

"And why? Because if your mother is elderly or vulnerable, then I am afraid all the statistics show that she is much more likely to die from coronavirus, or Covid-19. We cannot disguise or sugar-coat the threat."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock vowed to use the nation's resources to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

He said: "The only way to think about this is a war, where we look at what the entire resources of the nation are and how we can best deploy those to save lives.

"We've got to think about how we bring all the resources of the country to get through this."

He revealed today more than 4,000 heroic retired healthcare workers have returned to work to help battle the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Hancock tweeted how he was "delighted" with the response but urged "many more" to sign up, adding: "Your NHS needs you."

He added that everything possible was being done to avoid a peak in cases as Mr Johnson last night said he was "absolutely confident" the country could send coronavirus "packing" in 12 weeks.

Mr Johnson added British experts expect to start trials for a vaccine against Covid-19 within a month, although expectations are that a vaccine will take at least a year.

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – BE IN THE KNOW

Get the latest coronavirus news, facts and figures from around the world – plus essential advice for you and your family.

To receive our Covid-19 newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.

To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.

The Queen is currently self-isolating in Windsor Castle having cancelled public events in Cheshire and Camden.

Her message to protect the most vulnerable comes as supermarkets were put under immense strain amid panic-buying Brits.

Last week, key workers who will play a role in fighting coronavirus were named including nurses, police officers and delivery drivers.

Source: Read Full Article