Covid: UK records 598 new deaths over latest 24-hour period

Figure brings coronavirus death toll up to 52,275

The government has announced 598 new deaths from coronavirus over the latest 24-hour period, raising the total number of fatalities in the UK to 52,745. 

This is the highest daily increase since 12 May when 614 new deaths were recorded. 

Separate figures from the country’s statistics agencies show the UK has now had 68,000 deaths involving coronavirus, taking into account data on deaths in recent days as well as deaths certificates where Covid-19 has been mentioned. 

As of 9am on Tuesday, a further 20,051 Covid-19 infections had also been confirmed across the UK, which means that there have now been 1,410,732 cases since the pandemic started. 

On Monday, the government said that 21,363 people had tested positive for the virus and a further 213 people had died from it. 

England is now in the midst of a second national lockdown, which was introduced at the start of November to try to stem the spread of the disease. 

Earlier this week, health secretary Matt Hancock said it was “too early to say” whether lockdown in England would end on 2 December, the date originally given by the prime minister. 

Elsewhere, Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the country’s most severe restrictions will be imposed on 11 council areas to help protect the NHS. 

“These decisions will give us the best possible chance - albeit in a limited and careful way - of being able to ease restrictions in all parts of Scotland for Christmas,” she added. 

The measures will start at 6pm on Friday and will last until 11 December. 

Additional reporting by PA.