A further 53 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 233, the National Health Service (NHS) said on Saturday. The patients who died were aged between 41 and 94 and all had underlying health conditions. The announcement came after British prime minister Boris Johnson told all Britain’s pubs, restaurants and gyms to close on Friday night and not to reopen on Saturday. He said the closures, which also apply to cafes, cinemas, nightclubs, leisure centres, betting shops, casinos, and bingo halls, would save lives by reducing pressure on the NHS. - Additional reporting: Reuters

Source: The Irish Times March 21, 2020 18:11 UTC