More than 50,000 people in the UK have now died within a month of testing positive for coronavirus.
Some 595 new deaths across the UK were recorded in the most recent reporting period, which differs slightly between health authorities – 24 hours up to 5pm in England and Wales, and 24 hours up to 9.30am in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The number of deaths since the start of the pandemic now stands at 50,365. But more than 61,000 people had Covid-19 mentioned on their death certficates. Here’s a guide to making sense of the different measurements.
it comes as 22,950 positive tests were recorded in 24 hours.
Tuesday saw the UK’s daily death toll surpass 500 for the first time in almost six months but Wednesday’s daily increase of 595 is the largest since May 12.
In March Stephen Powis, the medical director of National Health Service England, said a death toll lower than 20,000 would be “a good result”. The number of people who have died within 28 days of a positive Covid test is now more than double that figure.