Five-year-old child becomes youngest known coronavirus victim as people are urged to stay home

A five-year-old child with underlying health issues has become the youngest victim of coronavirus, NHS England has said.

The child was one of 708 further victims to have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, taking the total to 4,313.

Michael Gove paid tribute to the child during the government's daily press conference, where he also confirmed seven medical professionals had died after testing positive for coronavirus.

Mr Gove said: “Our thoughts today are also with the family of the five-year-old child with underlying health conditions who’s tragically died.”

Both Mr Gove and chief medical Professor Steve Powis reiterated the government's message that people need to stay at home to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Michael Gove was speaking at the daily briefing.

The Department of Health said a total of 183,190 people had been tested as of 9am on Saturday, of which 41,903 tested positive.

The number of people who have died in Northern Ireland after contracting coronavirus has risen by eight to 56, health officials said.

Testing has resulted in 94 new positive cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the region to 998.

The number of people who have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus is 218, up by 46 from 172 on Friday, the Scottish Government has confirmed.

Five London bus workers with Covid-19 have now died, the Unite union said.

Unite regional secretary Peter Kavanagh said: “Each of these deaths is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of everyone at Unite goes to the families of the bus workers who have died of coronavirus.

“Unite will assist the families of our members in every possible way during this terrible time.”

An NHS worker is tested at a drive through centre. Credit: PA

Mr Gove said people should remain at home despite the improving weather.

When asked about people being tempted to break the social distancing rules during the sunny weather this weekend, Mr Gove said: “When we look at the death rate, the number of increasing fatalities, when we consider the pressure on our NHS, everyone has to ask themselves the question: ‘What am I doing to relieve pressure on the NHS, how am I helping in this shared national effort?’.

“I know that lockdown is challenging, I know it’s very difficult, particularly for families with children.

“But people must at every stage respect these guidelines because that is the only way of making sure we restrict the spread of the disease.”

He said police have the power to legally enforce the rules, and continued: “But it’s vital that all of us recognise if we weigh up an hour or two outside, and weigh it against the lives of those we love and the lives of those on the NHS front line, it should be clear I hope to all that we should follow the advice.”

Professor Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said health said would “plea to every member of the public to follow the instructions that they have been provided with”.

He added: “It’s the lives and the health of all of us, our friends, our relatives, your friends, your relatives, that depend upon us following these instructions.

“This is the time we need to make sure we stick to that guidance and don’t deviate from it.

Watford General hospital has told people to avoid its emergency department and advised instead to visit other nearby hospitals or seek advice through the 111 helpline.

The issue was caused by a problem with their oxygen supply and the hospital is only accepting women in labour as new patients currently but insist it is safe for all of those currently residing there.

Coronavirus: Everything you need to know