UK coronavirus hospital death toll soars by 167 in largest Sunday increase since June

The UK’s coronavirus hospital death toll has today risen by 167.

It is the largest increase on a Sunday since 77 deaths were announced on June 7.

NHS England said that a further 137 patients who tested positive for coronavirus died.

Scotland confirmed six more people had died after testing positive for coronavirus. It means 2,849 people have now died from the disease.

Another 1,148 new cases of Covid-19 were also recorded in Scotland, taking the overall number of infections there to 65,061.

Wales reported 16 new fatalities, taking the total number of deaths there to 1,888.

Another 819 new coronavirus cases were also recorded, meaning a total of 51,691 people have been infected with Covid-19 in Wales.

Northern Ireland today reported a further eight deaths from coronavirus, which took the overall figure to 716.

685 new cases were also reported in the past 24 hours and there are now 361 patients with the virus in hospitals across the region, including 111 people in intensive care.

Yesterday, another 256 deaths from coronavirus were reported Britain’s hospitals.

On Previous Sunday’s the hospital death toll rose by 90 last week, 69 on October 18, 35 fatalities were confirmed on October 11, 29 on October 4, 18 on September 27 and 12 on September 20.

The latest figures come after ministers, scientists and Labour all admitted England’s second lockdown could extend beyond December 2.

In news that slowly dashes hopes of a traditional family Christmas, Cabinet Office minister  Michael Gove  said the “time-limited” four-week shutdown could last for longer than planned if needs be.

And he refused to rule out plunging England into third or fourth national lockdowns next year.

Scientists and  Labour  leader  Keir Starmer  both said the lockdown must remain in place until it has enough of an effect – even if that’s longer than four weeks.

Sir Keir previously called for a two to three week lockdown but the government delayed so long, scientists say that will no longer be enough. He told the BBC: “We need to stay in the lockdown until the infection rate [R] is below 1.”

It comes after  Boris Johnson  last night announced a month-long lockdown for England – a screeching U-turn after weeks of pursuing failed local restrictions.

People will be ordered to stay at home while pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, gyms and non-essential shops must shut. People will be told to “stay at home” like in March. But schools will remain open.

Boris Johnson will address the Commons tomorrow and MPs are set to vote on the plans on Wednesday – amid a furious Tory revolt.

Mr Gove said it was “likely” the new shutdown would bring the R number below 1 and his “fervent hope” that it would end on time.