Coronavirus updates: Fifth patient dies of coronavirus in U.K. as health care spending rockets

A patient in their 70s has become the fifth person in the UK to die after contracting coronavirus.

The person, who is believed to have had a ‘number of signigcant and long-term health conditions’ died in Surrey yesterday (Monday, March 9).

It comes after Public Health England confirmed the number of patients testing positive for coronavirus in Staffordshire reached four – with Stoke-on-Trent and Cheshire East reporting zero cases each.

The latest death was reported at Surrey’s St Hellier Hospital.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We can confirm that sadly, a patient in their seventies who was very unwell with a number of significant and long-term health conditions, has passed away at St Helier Hospital. They had tested positive for Covid-19.

“Our thoughts and condolences remain with the patient’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

As of yesterday the total number of coronavirus cases in the UK has reached 319 and Italy has been put on a complete lockdown.