Covid: UK reports highest number of coronavirus deaths in a day since March

The UK government has reported 223 more Covid-19 deaths on Tuesday - the highest daily reported figure in seven months.

While the numbers for deaths are usually higher on Tuesdays because of a lag in reporting, the last time coronavirus-related deaths exceeded that number was on March 9 - when the country recorded 231 deaths. At the time, cases and deaths had been falling from the third peak in January.

Coronavirus deaths are recorded as such when a person dies within 28 days of testing positive - but they are not always reported by the government on the same day the person died.

Meanwhile, the number of new cases reported in the latest 24-hour period remained above 40,000 at 43,738.

It comes a day after the government recorded 49,156 new cases on Monday - the highest number of new daily cases since July 17.

The number of coronavirus cases have been creeping up in the past month, with the weekly reported number of cases rising nearly 29% in four weeks.

The UK now has one of the highest weekly rates of new reported cases in the world.

Although deaths remained relatively steady (compared to cases), the weekly reported number of deaths has risen 17% in three weeks.

Downing Street previously said that winter would be “challenging” when questioned about rising coronavirus rates.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said the government is keeping "very close watch" on the cases.

The UK's Covid death toll is now at 138,852 and it has had a total of 8,541,192 infections since the start of the pandemic.

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England

189 Covid deaths happened in England, while there were 36,712 new cases.

The country has a death toll of 121,232 and has had 7,262,958 positive tests since the start of the pandemic.

Wales

Wales reported two further coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday. The nation has a Covid death toll of 6,037.

Cases rose by 3,200 to a total of 404,844.

Scotland

There were 24 more Covid deaths in Scotland and 2,459 more cases of the virus, authorities reported on Tuesday.

Scotland has had a total of 8,954 coronavirus deaths and 612,416 cases.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, there were eight more deaths related to Covid-19. The country has a Covid death toll of 2,629.

Meanwhile, there were 1,367 more positive tests, bringing the total number of cases since the start of last year to 260,974.