Photo taken on April 14, 2020 shows a man walking in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
The death toll of those hospitalized in Britain who tested positive for the novel coronavirus hit 12,868 as of Tuesday afternoon, a daily increase of 761, the Department of Health and Social Care said Wednesday.
As of Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Britain reached 98,476, said the department.
Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has suggested the total number of virus-related deaths in Britain is significantly higher than the figures published by the National Health Service (NHS) and the health department, which only count hospital deaths.
According to the ONS, around one in 10 coronavirus-related deaths registered up to April 3 in England and Wales took place outside hospitals.
Amid criticism that care homes were being ignored during the outbreak, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced during Wednesday's Downing Street daily press briefing that from Wednesday all care home residents coming back from hospital will be tested before being admitted to the care home.
"Everybody going from hospital into social care will be tested for #coronavirus &isolated whilst the result comes through to protect those most in need," Hancock said on Twitter earlier in the day.
As to the personal protective equipment (PPE), he told reporters that a new online delivery system is being rolled out to supply care homes, noting that this will contribute to slowing the spread of coronavirus in care homes.
Asserting the importance of giving people the right to say goodbye, he vowed to ensure that "closest loved ones" will be able to be with people dying of coronavirus, wherever possible.
Despite the increasing number of fatality in the country, there was still some good news.
A 106-year-old lady, Connie Titchen, is believed to be Britain's oldest patient to have recovered from the virus, according to the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.
The great grandmother, from Birmingham, battled the virus for just under three weeks and was given a clean bill of health by medics at Birmingham City Hospital this week, said the Trust, which runs the hospital.
Born in 1913 and has lived through two World Wars, Titchen was admitted to City Hospital in mid-March with suspected pneumonia and was diagnosed with COVID-19 soon afterwards, said the Trust in a statement.
"I think the secret of her old age is that she is physically active and very independent. She had a hip operation back in December and within 30 days she was walking again. She really is amazing and I know all the family can't wait to see her. She has quite a few fans," said her granddaughter Alex Jones.
