Britain's coronavirus death toll has passed 31,000 after a rise of 626.
George Eustice announced the figure had hit 31,241 deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community on Friday.
He told the Downing Street press briefing that deaths involving Covid-19 that have been registered across the UK now stand at 33,021.
A six-week-old baby is believed to have become the youngest victim.
The latest regional figures showed that in the past 24 hours a further 332 deaths were recorded in England NHS hospitals, hitting 22,765.
There were a further 49 fatalities in hospitals in Scotland and 28 in Wales, bringing their totals to 1,811 and 1,090.
Another five Covid-19 related deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said. It brings the total number of deaths to 427.
A time delay on the statistics means that of the latest deaths in England, 58 occurred on May 7, 124 on May 6 and 41 on May 5. It is thought that the true death toll could be over 36,000.
It comes as Brits have been told to stay indoors during the sunny Bank Holiday weekend ahead.
VE Day commemorations today have seen socially-distanced street parties and veterans left housebound as the nation rallies together to mark Allied victory during World War Two.
Boris Johnson is readying for a "very limited" easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday
The Prime Minister will make a televised address on Sunday night outlining the UK-wide roadmap out of lockdown and will reportedly extend the lockdown until June.
Wales announced on Friday that it was reopening some libraries, recycling centres and tips and dropping the once-daily exercise rule.
But the country extended all other stay-at-home orders for three weeks, following Scotland's extension on Thursday.
