UK death toll rises as further 173 coronavirus fatalities announced
hereThe government figures do not include deaths of people with suspected Covid-19, only those who have tested postive.The actual number of deaths involving coronavirus is thought to have passed 53,000.NHS England announced 46 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19.Public Health Wales said a further four people had died after testing positive for Covid-19, taking the total number of deaths to 1,475, while the total number of cases there increased by 31 to 15,001.In Scotland, a total of 2,470 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus, up by six from 2,464 on Thursday, Nicola Sturgeon said.At today's daily briefing, education secretary Gavin Williamson said the R rate across the UK remains between 0.7 and 0.9.He