UK exceeds 50,000 coronavirus deaths

LONDON — Britain has become the fifth country in the world to record more than 50,000 coronavirus-related deaths.

The British government reports Wednesday another 595 people have died within 28 days of testing positive for COVID-19, the highest daily rate since May.

That took the total to 50,365.

The UK’s death toll is widely considered to be higher as the total only includes those who have tested positive for the coronavirus and doesn’t include those who died of COVID-related symptoms after 28 days.

The UK joins the United States which has 239,000 deaths, Brazil with 162,000, India at 127,000, and Mexico with 95,000, according to the tally by Johns Hopkins University.

The British government says another 22,950 people tested positive for the virus.

The UK has imposed a series of restrictions in the past few weeks that expire on December 2.

Following the news about the death toll exceeding 50,000, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is better equipped to handle outbreaks than it was during the first wave in the spring, when the country reported more than 40,000 deaths.

In addition to the prospect of a vaccine or vaccines against the coronavirus coming through in the next few months, Johnson cited far more widespread testing.

Last week, the government started its first city-wide testing program in the northwest England city of Liverpool.

It is planning more widespread testing around the country over the coming weeks, including of university students in early December ahead of their return home for Christmas.

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