The UK's coronavirus death toll has risen by 241, while the number of new cases has surged by more than 21,000. It is the highest daily increase in fatalities since June 4, and today's figure is nearly five times higher than the number announced last Tuesday.
The heartbreaking increase was confirmed as the government comes under fire over its handling of the Greater Manchester lockdown crisis.
It brings the official death toll since the start of the pandemic to 43,967, although latest data shows Covid-19 was referenced on 58,164 death certificates in the week to October 9.
Latest data shows more than 6,400 people are in hospital with the virus, of which 629 are in ventilator beds. This afternoon the Department of Health and Social Care