UK coronavirus death toll rises by 363 to 35,704

A further 363 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the official government total to 35,704.

The Department of Health’s figures, which cover the 24-hour period up to 5pm on Tuesday, were released during the daily public briefing.

However official statistics suggest there have been nearly 55,000 "excess deaths" across the UK by early May.

A total of 177,216 tests were carried out in the last 24-hour period up to 9am today, compared to Tuesday’s figure of 89,784. The government has set a target of 200,000 tests a day by the end of May.

Earlier Boris Johnson confirmed more than 300 NHS and social care staff had died with Covid-19 during the pandemic.

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