More than 57,500 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the UK, the ONS has confirmed.
Its latest figures, published this morning, show that 52,420 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to September 4, and had been registered by September 12.
It comes amid concerns over testing shortages in some of the country’s virus hotspots, with people complaining of being unable to get swabs and others forced to travel hundreds of miles from their homes to visit drive-through facilities.
Oxford University professor Sir John Bell, who has been advising the Government, said a “second wave” in Britain’s outbreak had led to a surge in demand for tests.
In other developments, Sir Keir Starmer is to call for new measures to protect millions of jobs as he addresses union chiefs today, with the formal end of the furlough scheme just a fortnight away.