MORE than 200 front-line health and care workers have died in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19 since the pandemic began, according to research yesterday.

Through tributes from loved ones and confirmation through sources such as local NHS trusts and other authorities, the PA news agency has confirmed 205 names of health and social care workers who have died after contracting Covid-19 since March 11.

The figure is likely to be still lower than the true number of workers who have died, as the names of some victims will not yet be in the public domain.

GMB national secretary Rehana Azam told the Star: “On the day the first vaccine is administered we can't lose sight of all those that have lost their lives due to the virus.

“These include the hundreds of NHS staff who put themselves in harm’s way to fight the pandemic.”

Nurse Rob Healey, who worked at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, became the latest health worker to die after contracting coronavirus.

His death was confirmed yesterday by North Bristol NHS Trust, with its chief executive Andrea Young describing Mr Healey as a “much-loved” nurse.