UK COVID-19 deaths rise to 44,517 as another 126 patients die

Another 126 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain as of Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 44,517, the British Department of Health and Social Care said Wednesday. The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

As of Wednesday morning, 286,979 people have tested positive for the disease in Britain, a daily increase of 630, according to the department.

The British government on Wednesday set out a package of fresh measures to support jobs and boost economy as part of a comprehensive plan to secure the country's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the plan to support jobs, British employers will receive "a one-off bonus of 1,000 pounds (about 1,259 U.S. dollars) for each furloughed employee" who is still employed as of Jan. 31, 2021, said a statement by the Treasury.

Meanwhile, dubbed "Kickstart Scheme", a new 2-billion-pound (about 2.5-billion-dollar) package will be launched to create hundreds of thousands of "new, fully subsidised jobs for young people" across the country, it added.

As the second part of a three-phase plan, the measures are designed to support jobs by focussing on skills and young people, create jobs with investment in shovel-ready projects and greening our infrastructure, and protect jobs through a VAT cut for the hospitality sector and a landmark Eat Out to Help Out discount scheme for diners, said the statement.