UK suffers worst daily Covid-19 death toll since May

Britain’s total coronavirus deaths pass grim milestone of 60,000

The coronavirus death toll in the UK has surpassed 60,000. AFP

The UK has recorded a further 367 coronavirus deaths and 22,885 more infections in the past day, figures show.

It is the highest figure recorded since May 27, when there were 422 deaths announced.

It is a significant rise on Monday's daily death toll of 102, although Tuesday's figure is generally higher due to a delay in weekend reporting.

A total of 20,890 people tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.

Meanwhile, separate data shows coronavirus deaths in the UK have officially passed 60,000.

According to data from the UK’s three statistical agencies – the Office for National Statistics (ONS), National Records for Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency - 59,927 fatalities have been registered with Covid-19 on the death certificate up to October 16.

Since that date, the government’s daily dashboard has added further 1,556 deaths, meaning it is inevitable coronavirus deaths have surpassed 60,000 in the UK.

When the two figures are added together, the death toll for all four nations - England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland - stands at 61,483.

There were 670 Covid-19 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to October 16, data released by the ONS on Tuesday showed.

That represents a 53-per-cent jump on the previous week - indicating increased positive cases are contributing to more fatalities.

People in the 17 to 24 age bracket continued to have the highest infection rate, with nearly 5 per cent of that group testing positive for the virus in high-risk areas, the ONS data showed.

Covid-19 deaths increased across all English regions but were highest in the north-west, where there were 229 deaths.

According to the data, about a third of people who tested positive reported experiencing symptoms – persistent cough, fever or loss of taste and smell – at the time of their test.

On Monday, 20,890 people tested positive for coronavirus in the UK.