UK coronavirus deaths hit 34,466 as 468 more die of bug

A total of 240,161 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 across Britain - up 3,451 cases from yesterday.

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The latest rise in deaths confirmed by the Department of Health is bigger than it was yesterday, when 384 more deaths were logged.

Today's figures also show that 208 - or almost half - of the deaths happened outside hospital.

The figures are an increase from last Saturday's 346.

In England, the total number of Covid-19 deaths rose to 24,527 today - up 181 from yesterday.

In Scotland, a total of 2,094 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus - up by 41 from yesterday.

In Wales, 18 more deaths were recorded overnight, bringing the overall tally there to 1,191.

There have been four more deaths in Northern Ireland, bringing their death toll to 473.

In the UK, 136,486 tests were carried out on 15 May.

New analysis published today, suggests the overall death toll from the virus is far higher - and has already passed 41,500.

The alternative toll, tallied up by the Office for National Statistics, refers to all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on death certificates this year until the beginning of May, including suspected cases.

It comes as:

• Doctors say it is too risky to reopen schools on June 1
• Sadiq Khan told Londoners to "continue to stay at home" as many flocked to parks to enjoy the sunshine
• Boris Johnson told MPs there would be no public sector pay freezes
• The head of the NHS said coronavirus admissions have halved since their peak

But it comes as new data released yesterday revealed the coronavirus “R” infection rate has risen.

Experts fear that Covid-19's reproduction number has gone up from between 0.5 and 0.9 to 0.7 and 1 in some parts of the country.

But the government's top scientists cautioned that the small increase in the R value isn't thought to be linked due to a lag of about two to three weeks in data.

Instead, they believe that as the total number of cases in the community is falling, the number in care homes and hospitals is accounting for a greater proportion of the total.

In the past week, a total of 2,757 people died in care homes and hospitals across the UK, figures from the Department of Health show.

Yesterday, the Health Secretary revealed a £600million fresh package of help for struggling care homes who aren't able to control the spread of the virus at tonight's press conference.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact in care homes bringing the grim tally to 12,526.

Hundreds flocked to parks and beaches to enjoy the first weekend since the lockdown started.

Brits in England are now able to sunbathe - as long as social distancing is still respected - after the lockdown rules were eased this week.

The easing of the Covid-19 lockdown in England means people can drive as far as they want to exercise outdoors, as long as they do not spend the night away from their home.

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Several tourist boards have urged people to stay away due to fears they will be overwhelmed by visitors.

In some areas, locals councils have told outsiders they are not welcome and there were fears people arriving in large numbers could result in vigilante attacks.

The RAC predicts 15 million leisure trips will be made by car in the UK this weekend.