The UK has recorded a pandemic-high of 1,820 more Covid-related deaths since Tuesday.
It brings the total number of fatalities to 93,290 since the pandemic began. That refers to people who have died within 28 days of first testing positive for coronavirus.
Wednesday’s increase breaks a record that was just 24 hours old: Tuesday saw 1,610 deaths, then the highest number to date, reported.
But as with all daily deaths updates, it doesn’t mean all these victims have actually died within the last 24 hours – just that they have been newly reported. The true deadliest days of the pandemic only emerge later, as deaths can take days and even months to report after occurring.
A new record for the actual deadliest day of the pandemic so far was also set on Wednesday, however.
According to data published by the government, 1,110 people died on January 12.
The previous record number of deaths on a single day was 1,073, recorded during the first wave of the virus on April 8, 2020. This number relates to deaths within 28 days of positive test by date of death.
The April 8 record was also surpassed by another two dates on Wednesday, with January 11 becoming the second deadliest day of the pandemic with 1,085 deaths and January 13 registering 1,077.