UK's Covid-19 death toll nears 10,000 as PM Johnson makes "very good progress"

A sign of support for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been in hospital since Monday as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues. [Reuters]

Britain’s COVID-19 death toll neared 10,000 on Saturday after health officials reported another 917 hospital deaths, while Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued to make “very good progress” in his recovery from the virus.

Britain has now reported 9,875 from the coronavirus pandemic, the fifth highest national number globally, and Saturday’s increase was the second day running that the number to die had increased by more than 900.