UK tops Europe's Covid-19 death toll; Grim statistics come as warnings of cyber attacks issued
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The UK now has the second most reported Covid-19 deaths in the world and the highest in Europe after surpassing Italy’s toll.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab revealed that with 693 deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours the country now had a death toll of 29,427 – 112 more than Italy.
Those stark numbers underpin the UK government’s view, according to Mr Raab, that “it is now clear that the second phase will be different and we will have to adjust to a new normal".
Mr Raab also issued a warning about determined groups of hackers who are seeking to take advantage of the crisis for their own ends and said there is evidence that they are targetting those attempting to combat the virus.
This comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to reveal the latest measures to be taken to deal with a range of the coronavirus impacts.
Mr Raab said: “Later on this week the Prime Minister will update the country on the measures and the decisions that we will need to take to protect the NHS, to safeguard the economy and to avoid the risk of a second peak that damages both the public health but also jobs and the wider economy.
“And as we consider the decisions that we will take next to protect life and also to protect our way of life, it is now clear that the second phase will be different and we will need to adjust to a new normal as a society.
“Adapt to new ways to work, to travel, to interact and to go about our daily lives. We've never experienced anything like this first stage of Covid-19 in terms of the scale of the lives lost but also the lockdown that it has required.
“As we go forward we want to make sure that the next phase is more comfortable, is more sustainable and prevents lasting damage to jobs and livelihoods but we need to be under no illusions, the next stage won't be easy and if we're going to protect life and preserve our way of life...we must continue to be guided by the scientific advice we receive and make sure the next steps that we take our short fitted and sustainable."
He said that whilst the vast majority of people and countries have come together and rallied to this international mission to defeat coronavirus there will always be some who seek to exploit a crisis for their own criminal and hostile ends.
“We know that cyber-criminals and other malicious groups are targetting individuals, businesses and other organisations by deploying Covid-19 related scams and phishing emails.
“And that includes groups which are known in the cyber-security world as advanced persistent – sophisticated networks of hackers who try to breach computer systems. We have clear evidence now that these criminal gangs are actively targetting national and international organisations which are responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have to say that makes them particularly dangerous and venal at this time – so we are working with the targets of those attacks, with the potential targets, and with others to make sure they are aware of the cyber threat and that they can take the steps necessary to protect themselves or at the very least mitigate the harm that could be wrought against them."
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has also issued a warning over the issue.
