Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 160 to 34,796
Figures lower than expected in England likely as a result of issues with reporting system, NHS says
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK’s official coronavirus death toll has risen by 160 to 34,796, the Department of Health (DHSC) has said.
The figures account for those who have died in hospitals, care homes and in the community after contracting Covid-19.
NHS England said its Covid patient notification system did not operate for a period of time on Saturday, which may have impacted the number of fatalities reported today, which is lower than would be expected.
The figures showed 67,409 people were tested on Sunday. Some 2,684 new cases have been identified, bringing the UK’s total of known cases to 246,406 – thought to be the fourth highest of any country.
Due to technical difficulties, Northern Ireland was unable to report any new tests on Sunday, which have been added to today's total instead, DHSC said.
Of the 24,739 confirmed reported deaths in English hospitals, 53 per cent have been in over-80s and 39 per cent in those aged between 60 and 79.
A further 8 per cent were aged between 40 and 59, with 181 fatalities of those aged 20-39 and 13 deaths in young people aged 19 and under.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has suffered the highest number of hospital deaths of any NHS Trust in England, with a total of 863.
Speaking at Downing Street's daily briefing, Domininc Raab said Westminster's Covid alert level is 'in the process of moving from level 4 to level 3', which would some lockdown restrictions in England to be eased.
England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam also warned that "we may have to learn to live with this virus in the long term, certainly for many months to come, if not several years".
He added: "A vaccine may change that but we can't be sure we will get a vaccine."
It came amid a further fracturing of any semblance of four nations response to the virus, as Arlene Foster announced groups of up to six people would be allowed to meet outdoors in Northern Ireland as of Tuesday.
Stormont unveiled a raft of new freedoms as the first step of the country’s recovery plan, including allowing churches to open for private prayer and drive-through services, so long as worshippers did not leave their cars.
Cinemas, concerts and live theatre performances will also be permitted in a drive-through format, and some sports such as golf and tennis can resume - so long as people continue to practice social distancing.
It is still forbidden to visit immediate family indoors, despite this being included in step one of the country’s recovery plan, prompting deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill to implore residents to “bear with us”.
Additional reporting by PA
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