United Kingdom coronavirus official death toll reduced by more than 5,000

Officials said as of Wednesday, August 12, the number of all deaths in patients testing positive for covid-19 in the UK within 28 days was 41,329.

Earlier Government figures said 46,706 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK, as of 5pm on Tuesday.

The DHSC said the change came after the UK Government and devolved administrations agreed to publish the number of deaths that have occurred within 28 days of a positive lab-confirmed covid test result each day.

Previously deaths were included for anyone who had died following a positive coronavirus test at any point.

A new set of figures showing the number of deaths that occur within 60 days of a positive test will also be published in England, it added.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies show there have been 56,800 deaths registered in the UK where covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

A breakdown of how the revised figures affect the previous North-East totals has yet to emerge.

Prior to the August 12 change, 325 coronavirus deaths were recorded at hospitals served by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and another 140 at those ran by North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

Breakdowns of deaths per individual hospital within these trusts are not available.

A message from the Editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

SImply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.