UK coronavirus death toll rises by 137 as total passes 44,000

The coronavirus death toll in the UK has risen by 137.

New figures announced by the Department of Health on Friday shows that, as of 5pm on Thursday, the Covid-19 UK death toll had reached 44,131.

As of 9am 3 July, there have been 10,120,276 tests, with 205,673 tests on 2 July. Some 284,276 people have tested positive.

It comes after the hospital death toll in the UK rose by 43, according to local NHS data.

In England, a further 38 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospitals, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 28,832.

NHS England said patients were aged between 33 and 96 years old. Two patients, aged 50 and 69, had no known underlying health conditions

In Scotland, a total of 2,488 patients have died after testing positive, up by one from 2,487 on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said.

Speaking during the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing, Ms Sturgeon said 18,276 people have tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 12 from 18,264 the previous day.

There are 670 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a decrease of 115 on Thursday. Of these patients, 12 were in intensive care, an increase of three.

In Wales, a further two people have died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,525.

The total number of positive tests has increased by 26 to 15,841, Public Health Wales said.

In Northern Ireland, two more deaths with Covid-19 have been reported, bringing the overall total to 554.

Another four people tested positive, official figures show, with the number of confirmed cases of the virus now 5,747.

The Department for Health will publish a figure later today which includes death in all settings, including care homes.

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