Highest number of Covid deaths recorded for over a year

The UK has recorded the highest number of Covid deaths in more than a year - since February 17th 2021. The latest figures, which show deaths within 28 days of a positive test by the date recorded, saw a spike of 651 deaths on Tuesday (April 13).

It comes as the number of deaths, by 7-day average, is increasing across the nation. This is despite cases and hospital admissions continuing to fall up and down the UK.

According to the most up to date Covid data, available on the UK Government website, there were a total of 651 deaths recorded with 28 days of a positive test by the date recorded. However, the day before, Tuesday, 288 deaths were recorded. These numbers are higher than the number of deaths recorded within 28 days of a positive test by date of death.

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The last time figures peaked was more than a year ago, on February 17th 2021, when 738 deaths were recorded. It comes as gradually, the UK is seeing the number of deaths within four weeks of a positive test increase.

Since the start of the pandemic, at total of 21.8 million cases of coronavirus have been recorded across the UK. Since deaths started being recorded, 171, 396 deaths have been recorded.

Covid-19 infections have fallen across most of the UK, though levels in Wales remain at a record high. England has seen infections drop for the first time in six weeks, with 3.8 million people likely to have had coronavirus last week, or around one in 14. This is down from 4.1 million the previous week, or one in 13, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The news comes as a sixth coronavirus vaccine was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare