Another 881 patients have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus - bringing the total to 7,978.

This is a smaller increase than the 938 deaths reported on Wednesday.

The latest figures were confirmed by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who was speaking at the Downing Street daily briefing.

He said 243,421 people have been tested for the virus, 65,077 have tested positive, and the number of people admitted to hospital with coronavirus symptoms now stands at 16,784.

"And of those who have contracted the virus, 7,978 have sadly died," Mr Raab said.


Dozens of stars say 'thank you' to NHS

In England, 765 patients have died in England after contracting coronavirus - bringing the total to 7,248.

The figures have been released by NHS England.

They clarified that 140 of those deaths took place on Wednesday, while 568 happened within the previous week and the remaining 57 were from March.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

In Scotland, the number of people with coronavirus who have died rose by 81 on Thursday taking the total to 447, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.

Wales has reported another 41 deaths, taking the total there to 286.

And in Northern Ireland a further four people have died, meaning the total rises to 82.

The different home nations collate their figures at different times throughout the day, so there are sometimes discrepancies between the UK government's total when adding up the individual numbers.

Image: People are being urged to stay home this Easter weekend

Mr Raab has said the UK "must keep going" with lockdown measures as he warned against giving coronavirus "a second chance to kill more people".

The foreign secretary said the government did not expect to be able to give more details on when coronavirus lockdown measures might be lifted until the end of next week.

He reiterated social distancing "will have to stay in place" until there was evidence that "clearly shows we've moved beyond the peak" of the COVID-19 outbreak.

"We are not done yet, we must keep going," Mr Raab said.

When the emergency measures came into force the government vowed they would be reviewed in three weeks; that point is Easter Monday.

The Coronavirus Act rushed through parliament last month states that the government has until next Thursday to review the lockdown.

'Important we stick with lockdown'

There are fears people may not heed the "stay at home" advice this Easter weekend, when there is predicted to be good weather.

Wales has already admitted it will extend the lockdown, First Minister Mark Drakeford saying on Wednesday: "We will not throw away the gains we have made and the lives we can save by abandoning our efforts just as they begin to bear fruit."

Ms Sturgeon has hinted heavily the same will happen in Scotland, telling Sky News on Thursday she agreed with the move and adding:"I don't think there is any possibility, any likelihood of these lockdown measures being lifted immediately or even imminently."