Yahoo News UK coronavirus death toll nears 45,000 after rising by 138
The UK coronavirus death toll has nearly hit 45,000 after rising by 138, the latest Government figures show.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 44,968 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Sunday.
This is an increase of 138 - up from 44,830 the previous day.
The figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 55,500.
The DHSC also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Tuesday, there had been a further 398 lab-confirmed UK cases. Overall, a total of 291,373 cases have been confirmed.
It comes as scientists warn there could be 120,000 hospital deaths during a second wave this winter from Covid-19 in a "reasonable worst-case scenario".
The new report from 37 scientists and academics says action must be taken now to mitigate the potential for a second peak, warning that the R rate could rise to 1.7 from September.
The official figures differ from the hospital deaths released by devolved regions.
NHS England said on Tuesday that a further 26 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals to 29,103.
The patients were aged between 49 and 94 and one 71-year-old patient had no known underlying condition.
Another five deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result.
Public Health Wales said a further two people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,543.
There were 21 new cases, while its revised total for confirmed cases in Wales now stands at 16,836.
The total for confirmed cases is 209 fewer than the previous day’s figures because of “de-duplication”.
No new coronavirus deaths have been reported in Scotland for the sixth day in a row, Nicola Sturgeon announced.
The First Minister told the Scottish Government’s coronavirus briefing that 2,490 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for Covid-19, no change on last Wednesday’s figure.
She said 18,368 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by three from 18,365 on Monday.
A total of 668 patients are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, up 67 from 550 the previous day, she added.
Of these 12 were in intensive care, up six in 24 hours.
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