Teen with ‘no known health problems’ dies as UK’s true coronavirus death toll jumps to 26,097

Another child with no known health problems has died after testing positive for Covid-19.
By Claire Lewis
Published 29th Apr 2020, 17:16 BST
Updated 29th Apr 2020, 17:18 BST
Screen grab of (left to right) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). PA Video/PA WireScreen grab of (left to right) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). PA Video/PA Wire
Screen grab of (left to right) Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (COVID-19). PA Video/PA Wire

The 14-year-old was one of the victims to have died in hospitals announced by NHS England today

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While it is much less likely for children to suffer severely from Covid-19 compared to adults, there have now been seven deaths of children and teenagers linked to the virus in England.

A boy aged 14 has died after contracting coronavirus. He had no known underlying health problems.A boy aged 14 has died after contracting coronavirus. He had no known underlying health problems.
A boy aged 14 has died after contracting coronavirus. He had no known underlying health problems.

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People of all ages with underlying health problems are believed to be at higher risk from the effects of the virus.

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The youngest victim without any underlying health issues was 13-year-old Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, who died in March aged just 13.

The news comes as more than 26,000 people with confirmed coronavirus have died in hospitals, care homes and elsewhere in the UK, according to new figures.

It includes 765 deaths reported in the 24 hours to 5pm on Tuesday.

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It is the first time data on the number of deaths in care homes and the wider community has been included in the Government's daily updates.

The new method of reporting includes an additional 3,811 deaths since the start of the outbreak.

Of these, around 70% were outside hospital settings and around 30% were in hospital.

PHE medical director Dr Yvonne Doyle said: "Every death from Covid-19 is a tragedy.

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"Tracking the daily death count is vital to help us understand the impact of the disease.

"These more complete data will give us a fuller and more up-to-date picture of deaths in England and will inform the Government's approach as we continue to protect the public.

"It will remain the case that ONS (Office for National Statistics) data, which publishes every week with data from 11 days ago, includes suspected cases where a test has not taken place.

"ONS figures will therefore continue to include more deaths than our daily series."

Related topics:Covid-19NHS EnglandEnglandGovernment

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