UK coronavirus death toll rises by 16 to 44,236

Lowest figure since 16 March - though reporting often lower on weekends

A further 16 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total to 44,236.

The Department of Health and Social Care figures as of 5pm on Sunday were lowest reported numbers since 16 March – but reporting is often lower on weekends.

The government figures also do not include all deaths involving Covid-19 across the UK, which are thought to have passed 55,000.

The DHSC also said there were 352 positive test results in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Monday.

Overall, 285,768 cases have been confirmed.

It comes as daily hospital admissions for people with Covid-10 dipped to single figures in most regions of England.

Figures show just six patients were admitted to hospitals in south-east England on 3 July, while only five were admitted in each of the regions of eastern England, London, north-west England and south-west England.

In all of those regions except south-west England, these were the lowest daily totals for Covid-19 admissions since mid-March.

South-west England had previously dipped as low as one admission on 21 June.

Additional reporting by Press Association