UK reports 360 more COVID-19 fatalities, NHS staff, social care workers among dead

The United Kingdom on Monday reported 360 deaths due to coronavirus in the last 24 hours which is the lowest daily total since last month.

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The death toll due to COVID-19 in the UK rose to 21,092 as the country continued to battle the virus.

The total number of infected cases in the country has risen to 154, 038, according to Johns Hopkins coronavirus resource center's live tracker.

According to minister Matt Hancock, the latest death toll includes 82 staff from the National Health Service and 60 social care workers.

With UK's economy under the gun, British finance minister Rishi Sunak launched micro-loans of up to $62,000 for small businesses hit by coronavirus.

"Some businesses will not want to take on more debt which is why our focus has been on cash grants, tax cuts and tax deferrals -- but for others, loans will be part of the answer," Sunak said, adding,""So today we are announcing a new micro-loan scheme, providing a simple quick easy solution for those in need of smaller loans."

Britain's Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) watchdog had earlier warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could shrink the economy by 13 per cent this year.

Meanwhile, British PM Boris Johnson,55, reported back to work on Monday and said "we are now beginning to turn the tide".

On the lockdown, the British PM said: "I refuse to throw away all the effort and the sacrifice of the British people and to risk a second major outbreak, a huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the NHS."

Johnson who was struck by the virus had spent three nights in ICU but recovered sufficiently the past few weeks to come back to work even as British healthcare workers continue to complain about lack of masks and PPEs.