UK coronavirus death toll rises by 881 bringing total to 7,978

The UK death toll has risen by 881 in the last 24 hours, Dominic Raab has said.

This brings the total people who have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK to 7,978 as of 5pm on Wednesday, up from 7,097 the day before.

It comes after figures were released separately by England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. ​

NHS England announced that 765 more people had died after contracting coronavirus.

The new hospital deaths were patients aged between 24 and 103-years old. Some 43 of the 765 patients (aged between 33 and 99 years old) had no known underlying health condition.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England now stands at 7,248.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Northern Ireland hospitals has risen to 82, after four further deaths were reported on Thursday.

There were 138 new cases of Covid-19 confirmed, bringing the total across the region to 1,477.

And finally First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that a total of 447 patients have died in Scotland, up by 81 from 366 on Wednesday.

Speaking ahead of a virtual question and answer session with party leaders, she said 4,957 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, up by 392 from 4,565 the day before.

There are 212 people in intensive care with coronavirus or coronavirus symptoms, an increase of 2 on Wednesday.

Ms Sturgeon added that 1,781 are in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

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