Twenty-seven more people have died in the North East after contracting coronavirus.
A total of 546 deaths were reported by NHS England on Tuesday afternoon, taking the total number of Covid-19 -related fatalities in the country to 19,295.
NHS England confirmed the latest victims were aged between 31 and 99 - including 38 with no underlying health conditions.
The figures also show 141 of the new deaths took place between April 1 and April 24 while the remaining 20 deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 19.
In the North East, there were nine deaths reported by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, the highest in the region, while there were four further deaths announced by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Latest North East deaths by NHS trust
County Durham and Darlington - 2
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear - 1
Gateshead - 9
Northumbria - 4
South Tyneside and Sunderland - 2
Newcastle - 3
North Tees and Hartlepool - 0
South Tees - 6
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys - 0
It comes after new figures showed at least 24,000 people in the UK have died after suffering confirmed or suspected Covid-19.
Some 24,243 deaths involving coronavirus have now been registered across the UK, analysis by the PA news agency shows, as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reported there had been more than 4,000 deaths in care homes in England. However the true toll is thought to be far higher.
Meanwhile, the nation held a minute’s silence to honour those who have lost their lives on the frontline following a campaign from Unison, the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal of College of Nursing.
People across the UK paused for a minute in tribute to the sacrifice made by those in roles ranging from doctors and nurses to carers, cleaners, porters and bus drivers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has just returned to work this week after recovering from Covid-19, joined the countrywide commemoration, as did Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
