UK virus deaths certain to exceed 10,000 this weekend

The total number of Britons who have died after testing positive for coronavirus will "almost certainly" pass 10,000 this weekend, a former public health director has told Sky News.

Professor John Ashton said the figure will not include deaths in care homes and in the community, meaning "we really don't know the full picture" about the coronavirus.

He also warned that the UK must focus more on shielding the elderly and vulnerable from the coronavirus, with some estimates suggesting that cases have now been identified in 50 percent of care homes nationwide.

"There have been some modelling estimates in the planning guidance that suggest once you get coronavirus into a care home you might expect as many as 30 percent deaths," the former president of the Faculty of Public Health said.

"You're talking about a very frail and vulnerable population - usually people in their 80s and 90s, maybe with dementia - and we can't just write them off."

On Friday, it was confirmed that another 980 patients have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus - surpassing Spain and Italy's worst recorded daily totals.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said a total of 8,958 have now died in hospital - and on Thursday, a further 5,706 people tested positive for the virus in the UK.-Photo Sky News