Coronavirus: UK posts highest daily COVID deaths since June and more than 21,000 new cases
The UK has recorded another 21,331 COVID-19 cases - up from 18,804 yesterday, official government figures show.
There were also another 241 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, triple the figure posted on Monday when 80 were recorded.
It is the highest daily deaths figure since 258 were reported on 5 June, but there is often a delay in the reporting of deaths over a weekend - causing a spike in the early part of the week.
The latest figures bring the total number of COVID-19 cases in the UK to 762,542 and total deaths to 43,967.
Commenting on the latest rise in reported deaths, Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England, said: "The trend in deaths is rising sharply.
"Tragically we know that older people and those with underlying health conditions tend to suffer more if they become unwell.
"We all have a responsibility to follow the restrictions to help stop the virus spreading to those who are at greater risk.
"The measures across the country are there to reduce transmission of the virus which is why it is essential that we all follow them.
"We know that the easiest and best way to protect each other is to regularly wash our hands, wear a face covering when required, and to keep space from each other."
Separate figures published by the UK's statistics agencies show there have now been 59,000 deaths registered in the UK where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.
According to figures from NHS England released on Tuesday, 134 more people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 31,181.
Patients were aged between 36 and 100. All but six, aged between 68 and 91, had known underlying health conditions.
The deaths were between 13 and 19 October. Five other deaths were reported with no positive COVID-19 test result.
Public Health Wales said 10 further deaths had been reported, with the total number of deaths since the beginning of the pandemic rising to 1,722.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show weekly deaths linked to coronavirus have risen to their highest level in England and Wales since the beginning of July.
A total of 438 deaths were registered in the week ending 9 October with COVID-19 mentioned on the death certificate.
This is up from 321 deaths in the week to 2 October.
The 117 additional deaths marks a 36% rise in deaths from the previous week.
