The UK has recorded its largest daily rise in deaths with a further 181 people dead (Picture: Reuters)

The UK coronavirus death toll has reached 759 after another 181 people were confirmed dead.

It is the biggest day-on-day increase since the outbreak began, surpassing yesterday’s record of 115.

In England, a further 168 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths to 689, the NHS said. The patients were aged between 29 and 98 years old and all but four – aged between 82 and 91 – had underlying health conditions.

There are now 14, 579 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the UK, while 99,198 people have tested negative for the virus. The Department of Health updated the figures after Wales recorded another six deaths, Scotland recorded eight more deaths and Northern Ireland recorded three more deaths.


Map shows the number of regional cases as deaths soar to 759

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The figures come after Prime Minster Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock both tested positive for coronavirus. The pair said they both have mild symptoms and are self isolating, with Mr Johnson vowing to continue to lead the nation through the crisis via video conferences.



The PM revealed he had coronavirus in a video tweet in which he thanked the NHS on the frontline of the battle against the disease.

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Earlier today, the family of a GP in Southend confirmed he died after showing ‘text book symptoms’ of Covid-19. Dr Habib Zaidi, 76, is the first UK medic to lose his life to the disease.

His daughter Sarah, also a GP, said he ‘dedicated his life’ to the practice.

Despite the PM putting on a brave face, his diagnosis raises fears that other key Downing Street staff may have been exposed – and prominent members of the Cabinet.

Habib Zaidi died in intensive care at Southend Hospital, Essex (Picture: NHS Southend CCG)

Brits have been adapting to to life under lockdown this week, with police patrolling the streets to ensure people stick to the new rules.

Boris Johnson has ordered people not to go outside unless absolutely necessary. Exemptions include buying essential food and medicine (although this should be as infrequently as possible), exercising once a day and if you are a key worker.

Gatherings of more than two are banned and people should only go outside with members of their own household, the PM said.

With cases surging, the British public sent a message of thanks and solidarity to the NHS by giving them a nationwide round of applause. In emotional scenes, thousands of people across the UK opened their doors and windows at 8pm on Thursday, to clap for health service workers dealing with the coronavirus crisis.

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More than half a million people have been infected with coronavirus world wide (Picture: SIPA USA/PA)

Coronavirus has infected half a million people, killed over 20,000 and spread to 175 countries.

Unlike several other countries, the UK is not doing wide-spread testing, meaning the number of people infected with the disease is likely to be much higher than official figures suggest.

The estimated number of people in Scotland who have contracted coronavirus has now been revised up to more than 65,000, according to Scotland’s chief medical officer.

The UK’s chief scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance has previously said 50,000 people are likely to have been infected with coronavirus in the UK already.