Boris Johnson has offered his ‘deepest condolences’ to those whose relatives had died due to Covid-19 after figures revealed that more than 100,000 have now lost their lives.
This figure includes 248 who have passed away at the Great Western Hospital, up three in the latest official figures.
The Prime Minister said he takes “full responsibility” for the response to the pandemic and said “we did everything we could” to minimise suffering.
In a Downing Street press conference Mr Johnson said: “I think on this day I should just really repeat that I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and of course as I was Prime Minister I take full responsibility for everything that the Government has done.
“What I can tell you is that we truly did everything we could, and continue to do everything that we can, to minimise loss of life and to minimise suffering in what has been a very, very difficult stage,
“And a very, very difficult crisis for our country, and we will continue to do that, just as every government that is affected by this crisis around the world is continuing to do the same.”
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty also warned there will be “a lot more deaths over the next few weeks before the effects of the vaccines begin to be felt” and cautioned against relaxing restrictions “too early”.
Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: ‘This tragic milestone is a heartbreaking reminder of how many people have lost their lives to this dreadful disease and the terrible toll it has placed on family and friends.
’The lives they lived should be remembered and we should never forget that behind every statistic is somebody’s life taken too soon. We must continue to do all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this deadly virus.
’Infection rates are showing some hopeful signs of falling in some areas but still remain far too high, with our health and social care services working under severe pressures.’
