UK coronavirus deaths have broken the 7,000 barrier after 828 victims were reported in England alone in 24 hours.
NHS England confirmed the latest victims were aged between 22 and 103 – with 46 having no underlying health conditions, Thesun reports.
It means there have been 6,483 deaths in total in England.
The Department of Health has not yet released figures for all of Britain – so the death total will rise again later today.
Cases yesterday fell to their lowest level this month – with the government’s chief scientific adviser explaining the UK may now see the curve start to flatten.
But the number of people dying from the disease has continued to rise.
The figure is expected to be high today as yesterday’s total of 6,159 deaths – the equivalent of one Brit every two minutes – did not include Manchester, Leeds or Northern Ireland.
The grim death toll had dropped for two days running on Sunday and Monday – but this was the same pattern as last Monday suggesting a possible lag in deaths recorded over the weekend.
In Scotland today, 70 more people have died – bringing the total to 366.
Wales today suffered 33 more deaths – with their total deaths now on 245.
It comes as a 29-year-old nurse today who became the 14th frontline medic killed by the deadly bug.
Rebecca Mack, from Morpeth, Northumberland, was remembered as an “amazing medic” after she tragically died this week.
It is understood the young woman first worked at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne, before becoming a NHS 111 medic.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is continuing to battle coronavirus in hospital – but his fever is easing at last with hopes he has overcome the worst of the struggle.
The PM, 55, was hailed as a “fighter” as he spent a second night in intensive care and the Queen led the world in sending him messages of support.
He is now stable and “responding to treatment” while remaining “in good spirits” in intensive care, Downing Street said today.