CORONAVIRUS deaths in the UK have risen to 33,186 after 494 fatalities were recorded in the last 24 hours.
A total of 229,705 have now tested positive for the bug across Britain - up 3,242 from yesterday.
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The latest death toll refers to those who have died in all settings - including care homes, hospices and the wider community.
New analysis published yesterday, however, suggests the overall death toll from the virus is far higher - and has already passed 40,000.
The alternative toll, tallied up by the Office for National Statistics, refers to all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on death certificates this year until the beginning of May, including suspected cases.
Separate modelling by The Times estimates that the overall figure is closer to 61,000 - when those caused directly and indirectly by the virus are included.
DEADLY RISE
Today's rise in deaths confirmed by the Department of Health is smaller than it was yesterday, when 627 more deaths were logged.
This is likely to be due to a lag in reporting over the long weekend, with figures only catching up yesterday.
The jump does however remain the smallest daily rise recorded on a Wednesday in the UK for the last seven weeks.
In England, the total number of Covid-19 deaths rose to 23,952 today - up 244 from yesterday.
Patients were aged between 49 and 99 years old and the majority had underlying health conditions.
In Scotland, a total of 1,973 patients have died after testing positive for coronavirus - up by 61 from yesterday.
In Wales, 22 more deaths were recorded overnight, bringing the overall tally there to 1,154.
It comes as:
- 'True' UK coronavirus death toll passes 40,000
- Taxes could increase by £165 a year for millions of workers
- Roads and tubes packed with commuters as Brits return to work
- Workers feared to have 'furlough fever'
- Quarter of Brits who died as a result of Covid crisis 'were not infected'
- UK economy drops at fastest pace since financial crisis
Among the latest UK deaths is Kapalu Musenyesa, a Zambian student studying at Middlesex University.
The 22-year-old business student was found dead in his North London flat after complaining of a fever and trouble breathing.
Dr Douval Thompson-Davis, of Greenford in London, also died after testing positive for coronavirus as he was treated for an arm injury.
The 59-year-old, who taught science at Greenford High School, tragically died on May 4 - nearly a month after being admitted.
He joins more than 71 frontline workers who have now died from the bug - although health chiefs say this figure has been largely under reported.
Separate analysis by the PA Media news agency has found that 162 health and social care workers have in fact died after contracting Covid-19 since March 11.
Experts from the University College London have suggested shielding the most vulnerable is the only way to keep Britain's coronavirus death toll below 73,000 in the next year.
And they warn excess fatalities could still rise to 400,000 if current lockdown restrictions are lifted too fast.
It comes as new data suggest a quarter of Brits who have died as a result of the pandemic were never actually infected with the bug.
Experts say the unexplained extra deaths are in fact "collateral damage" of the "Stay At Home" message, which left heart attack and stroke victims avoiding hospitals.
TAX HIKE
Meanwhile leaked documents from the Treasury suggest the lockdown could lead to tax hikes of £165 a year for millions of workers.
The virus' impact could also bring about an end to the triple lock on state pensions and a two-year freeze on pay for nurses, teachers and police as part of a menu of options the Chancellor is looking at to balance the books.
At the same time, the UK economy is dropping at its fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis.
MOST READ IN NEWS
As Rishi Sunak announced plans to extend the Government's furlough scheme until October, critics have said some Brits are enjoying a “paid holiday” as bosses struggle to get them back to work.
The chancellor has described the thousands of British jobs lost so far as "heartbreaking".
His unprecedented job-retention scheme will therefore remain the same until July - with workers paid 80% of their wages by the Government - before changes are put in place from August to October.
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