UK coronavirus death toll increases by 89 to 43,995

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A empty arcade in London. Credit: PA

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 43,995 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday, up by 89 from 43,906 the day before.

The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 54,000.

The DHSC also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Thursday, 252,084 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 576 positive results. Overall, a total of 9,914,663 tests have been carried out and 283,757 cases have been confirmed positive.

Of the latest deaths, eight took place in hospitals Wales, with one each in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

NHS England confirmed 35 deaths in hospitals in the country, meaning the rest took place in the wider community.