UK coronavirus deaths top 1,000 as country steps up testing

Women are seen wearing protective face masks as they walk on Clapham High Street as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, London, Britain, March 28, 2020. [Reuters]

Medical workers in England on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic started to be tested on Saturday as the number of COVID-19 deaths in Britain topped 1,000 after a record 260 people died in the previous 24 hours.

Government figures showed 1,019 people had died as of 1700 GMT on Friday, while the number of confirmed cases stood at 17,089 on Saturday morning, up 17.5% on a day earlier.