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The number of people who have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has risen to 26,711 – an increase of 674 over 24 hours.
It is the second day the government’s daily announcement has included people in care homes and the community, rather than just in hospital, who have died.
But only those who had tested positive for Covid-19 are included, meaning anyone who died with a suspected case won’t be recorded.
The figures cover the period up to 5pm on Wednesday.
It comes after the number of people who have died in hospitals after contracting the virus rose by 482 in 24 hours.
The increase consists of 391 in England, 60 in Scotland, 22 in Wales and nine in Northern Ireland.
Ahead of today’s deadline for carrying out 100,000 tests a day, 81,611 were performed on Wednesday. Capacity is now thought to be just under 90,000.
Some 171,253 people have tested positive overall, an increase of 6,032 since Wednesday. Also, 15,043 coronavirus patients are in hospital, down from 15,359.
The figures were announced by Boris Johnson during his return to Downing Street press conferences.
The PM also confirmed the UK is “past the peak” of the coronavirus outbreak.
Speaking in Downing Street, he said: “I can confirm today that for the first time we are past the peak of this disease.
“We are past the peak and on the downward slope. And we have so many reasons to be hopeful for the long term.”
The government will next week reveal plans for lifting the lockdown, he said, adding the crisis was “as though we have been going through some huge Alpine tunnel. “And we can now see the sunlight and the pasture ahead of us.”