UK reports more coronavirus deaths in one day than all of the EU27 combined
Prime minister Boris Johnson and senior ministers have come under intense criticism for their handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Photgraph: Ben Birchall/PA. - Credit: PA
The UK has reported more deaths from the coronavirus in one day than all 27 EU member states combined.
The UK saw 359 more people have die from Covid-19 on Wednesday compared with 332 across the EU.
According to a tweet by Euronews political editor Darren McCaffrey, the highest single count of deaths in Europe occurred in France, where 107 have died after contracting the virus.
You may also want to watch:
But even with all of the other EU countries totalled in, it is still lower than the UK's own figure.
Most Read
- 1 Leave EU website suspended after EU registry blocks move to Ireland
- 2 Comedian wins praise after shaming No 10 during Dancing on Ice appearance
- 3 Boris Johnson blames seafood companies for post-Brexit sales slump
- 4 Television drama to focus on Boris Johnson's first year in Downing Street
- 5 Progressive alliance could see Labour win 351 seats at next election, new analysis reveals
- 6 The Tory MPs who failed to vote against a Universal Credit cut
- 7 Michael Gove among 14 Tory MPs revealed to have joined banned Parler app
- 8 Priti Patel fails to appear in Commons to answer questions on missing police records
- 9 UK has highest Covid-19 death rate in world
- 10 Boris Johnson claims Labour supporters using Universal Credit vote to incite hatred
'Wow! From my calculation the UK today announced more #coronavirus deaths, 359 than the entire EU 27 combined, 324 - quite extraordinary,' McCaffrey wrote.
'Has this happened before?'
The UK's total death toll from Covid-19 has exceeded 50,000 victims. It is currently the second largest total in the world, with the US taking top spot with 109,000 deaths.
However, the World Health Organization (WHO), has warned that the data surrounding death rates in countries is yet to be complete and that nations are using different virus-reporting methods.
'Differences are to be expected between information products published by WHO, national public health authorities, and other sources using different inclusion criteria and different data cut-off times,' a WHO report said. 'While steps are taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, all data are subject to continuous verification and change.'
The figures come as Downing Street faces mounting criticism for its handling of the outbreak after the UK exceeded a target to keep death rates at around 20,000 people. Opposition MPs have called for a public inquiry into the matter.
MORE: Government minister self-isolates after appearing unwell at despatch box
Whitehall is attempting to curb transmissions from overseas travellers by imposing a 14-day quarantine on new arrivals in England.
Speaking on BBC, Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said: 'The higher the spread of the virus here in the community in the UK, the more negligible any difference is of somebody coming into the country.
'As the spread in our communities is now much lower, the marginal impact of anyone coming into the country (with Covid-19) is much higher - that is why this is the right time to do it.'
He added: 'The reality is that we want to stay ahead of this, the transport secretary is working across government to look at how we fine-tune this as we go forward.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.