UK coronavirus death toll set to pass 38,000 as 177 more lives lost in hospitals

The UK's coronavirus hospital death toll has increased to 30,553 after 177 more fatalities were reported in 24 hours.

England reported 149 new deaths, Scotland had 15, Wales recorded 10 and Northern Ireland had three.

Friday's daily rise of 177 is down from 213 on Thursday and 209 on Wednesday.

Recent Friday totals were 155 on May 22, 256 on May 15, 414 on May 8, 427 on May 1 and 776 on April 24.

The Government's official toll - previously 37,837 deaths in all settings, including care homes - will be updated later. It is the second highest total in the world and the highest in Eurpe.

However, the UK's true Covid-19 death toll is more than 47,300 based on death certificates from each UK nation.

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The latest figures came as Chancellor Rishi Sunak prepared to tell employers they will need to contribute to their furloughed workers' salaries from August as the Government admitted the scheme cannot run "indefinitely".

The NHS reported 149 new hospital deaths in England, taking the country's total to 26,384.

The latest victims were aged between 35 and 101.

Of those, 11 (aged between 70 and 95) had no known underlying health condition.

The number of deaths by region is as follows:

- Midlands: 44

- North West: 33

- North East & Yorkshire: 22

- South East: 19

- East: 16

- South West: 8

- London: 7

Of the 149 new deaths announced on Friday:

- 36 occurred on May 28

- 59 occurred on May 27

- 17 occurred on May 26

The figures also show 30 of the new deaths took place between May 3 and May 25, six deaths occurred in April, with the remaining one death taking place on March 19.

NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago.

This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated.

The figures published on Friday by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths on a single day, with a current total of 893.

A total of 2,331 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, up by 15 from 2,316 on Wednesday, Nicola Sturgeon said.

Speaking at the Scottish Government's coronavirus briefing, she announced 15,327 people have tested positive for the virus across Scotland, a rise of 39 from 15,288 previous day.

There are 1,216 patients in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, a fall of 22 in 24 hours from 1,238.

Of these, 40 were in intensive care, an increase of three.

Public Health Wales said a further 10 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths in Wales to 1,317.

Another 102 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 13,827.

The number of deaths among people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland has risen to 521 after a further three fatalities were reported by the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, Mr Sunak was set to announce changes to the job retention scheme, which has so far covered the wages of 8.4 million staff unable to work during lockdown - costing £15 billion.

Ministers have said they will extend the scheme covering 80% of workers' salaries up to £2,500 per month until the end of October, with employers expected to make a contribution.

It comes after Boris Johnson announced a gradual easing of the lockdown in England, with friends and families able to meet in parks and gardens in socially distanced groups of six from Monday.

The Prime Minister said all five of his tests to move into the next phase had been met, allowing schools to begin reopening and greater contact to be permitted from Monday.

In Scotland, a gradual relaxation of lockdown begins on Friday with a similar plan to allow outside gatherings.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is permitting groups of up to eight people.

Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford, announced that, from Monday, an unlimited number of people from two different households would be able to meet as long as they do not travel more than five miles.

The easing of restrictions also means the gradual reopening of the economy, with outdoor retail and car showrooms opening in England from Monday ahead of a greater opening of non-essential shops.

In other developments:

- Environment Secretary George Eustice confirmed pubs with beer gardens are likely to be the first venues in the hospitality sector to reopen.

- Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance stressed "there is not a lot of room" to ease measures, with new Covid-19 cases still around 8,000 per day.

- The toll of deaths linked to the virus rose to almost 48,000, while at least 189 frontline health and care workers have died after contracting Covid-19.

- Dental practices in England will be able to reopen from June 8.

- People across the nation clapped their appreciation for carers for the 10th successive week on Thursday night, in what the founder of the Clap for Carers event said should be the last.