Another 761 dead as UK’s coronavirus death toll nears 13,000

Another 761 people have died after contracting coronavirus, taking the UK death toll to at least 12,868, the Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed, Metro reports. 

Today’s jump in deaths is another huge daily increase, following a rise of 778 yesterday and 717 on Monday.

The figures were updated after England recorded another 651 deaths. Scotland reported 84 deaths, while 60 were recorded in Wales and six in Northern Ireland.

The combined figure from the four nations comes to 801, which is higher than the number – 761 – later released by the DoH this afternoon.

There is also a difference in the DoH’s death toll – 12,868 – and the combined figure from England (11,656), Scotland (699), Wales (463), and Northern Ireland (140), which is 90 higher at 12,958.

The government has said this difference is because each devolved authority often makes amendments to their own data after reporting deaths to the DoH each day.