Coronavirus Updates: UK records more than 40000 deaths

The UK’s official coronavirus death toll is now almost double the government’s best case scenario of 20,000 deaths.

The death toll jumped again on Thursday with 176 more people dying in the UK after testing positive for Covid-19.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said 39,904 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday, up by 176 from 39,728 the day before.

It comes after NHS England announced 115 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 27,159.

Of the 115 new deaths announced on Thursday, 24 occurred on June 3, 49 occurred on June 2, and nine occurred on June 1.

The figures also show 25 of the new deaths took place in May, seven occurred in April, and the remaining one death took place on March 20.

NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago.