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Your support makes all the difference.The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said 42,589 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday, up by 128 from 42,461 the day before.
The Government figures do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which is thought to have passed 53,000.
The DHSC also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Saturday, 230,550 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 1,295 positive results.
Overall, a total of 7,714,201 tests have been carried out and 303,110 cases have been confirmed positive. The figure for the number of people tested has been "temporarily paused to ensure consistent reporting" across all methods of testing.
The new figures come as the Government faces mounting pressure to drop the two-metre distancing rules. A review into the measure, which has been strongly opposed by MPs and campaigners, will be concluded within the coming days, said a government scientific adviser.
Professor Calum Semple, one of the experts in the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), told BBC's Today programme on Friday it was now "reasonable" to reduce the distancing rules and start reopening businesses.
The chancellor has also been urged to consider a four-day working week to overhaul the economy, as MPs including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Green MP Caroline Lucas wrote a letter arguing that reducing working hours could provide more opportunities.
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