Coronavirus: UK death toll rises by 89 to 43,995

Another 576 people tested positive, according to the Department of Health and Social Care

The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen by 89 in 24 hours to 43,995, according to government figures.

Data from the Department of Health and Social Care shows this is a marked decrease compared to the 149 daily deaths reported last Thursday.

However the true death toll is likely to be far higher than the government’s total.

The Office for National Statistics said the total number of excess deaths in the UK during the outbreak has passed 65,000.

A further 576 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 24 hour period, bringing the total to 283,757.

Local testing figures released a few hours earlier revealed that Leicester had the highest rate of infection in the UK in the week ending 28 June.

Schools in the city were closed from today after health secretary Matt Hancock imposed a local lockdown. Non-essential shops were shut on Tuesday.

It means residents in the lockdown zone will be unable to go to the pub when the rest of England does on Saturday.

Meanwhile education Gavin Williamson said the risk of local lockdowns should not prevent children returning to school across the UK in September, as the government issued guidance for the new academic year.

And in Scotland, first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that wearing face coverings will become mandatory in shops in Scotland from 10 July retail sectors and on public transport at that time.