UK coronavirus death toll rises by 1 with more than 1,700 new cases

UK coronavirus death toll rises by 1 with more than 1,700 new cases thumbnail

The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday – Friday plus breaking news updates

More than 1,700 new coronavirus cases have been recorded across the UK, as the national death toll rose by one.

Another 1,715 infections were recorded on Sunday, compared with 1,108 the day before.

The Department of Health and Social Care said a single new Covid-19 death was recorded in the UK over the past 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities to 41,999.

However, separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies indicate there have now been 57,200 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

Earlier NHS England reported that a further three people who tested positive for the virus had died in hospitals in England.

The patients were aged between 51 and 93 and all had a known underlying condition.

The dates of the deaths were all on or after August 26.

Meanwhile in Scotland, positive cases rose by 123 as the number of daily tests hit its highest number since the start of the pandemic.

A total of 20,318 people have contracted the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to the Scottish Government.

The rise is the highest in more than a week – with the same figure recorded on August 22.

Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly said that World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance states the pandemic is under control if the number of new daily cases is less than five per cent of those tested.

On Twitter, Ms Sturgeon said: “123 Covid cases reported today. The circumstances and any connections/patterns are being closely examined, and Test and Protect is working hard to break transmission chains.

“While the increase is of course a worry, it is important to note that the positivity rate remains below one per cent.”

The number of new cases was 0.7 per cent of those tested – the same as the day before.