The number of people in UK hospitals who have died from coronavirus has surpassed 19,000 after 776 more fatalities, ending hopes of falling figures.
England's hospital death toll increased by 587, taking the total number of deaths up to 17,373 from 16,786 the previous day.
Patients whose deaths were recorded in the latest daily figures were aged between 40 and 102 years old, NHS England has said.
34 of the 587 patients (aged between 50 and 102 years old) had no known underlying health condition.
The death toll in Wales hit 751 after 110 new deaths were reported today, with 8,601 people now infected with the disease after 243 new cases confirmed.
Scotland recorded 64 new deaths, taking the total to 1,184, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.
In Northern Ireland, another 15 people have died from coronavirus, taking the total in the region to 278.
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The daily figures have risen from Thursday, which saw a daily death total of 602 in the UK.
The latest figures come as the first batch of coronavirus home testing kits ran out within hours today as a surge of key workers left the system mired in confusion.
A limited supply of just 1,000 tests vanished off the government's website after Matt Hancock launched them for 10million key workers and their families.
Minutes later the entire website appeared to shut down - with a message telling applicants: "You can’t currently register for a COVID-19 test. Please check back here later."
Downing Street claimed 5,000 of the kits were ordered within two minutes of the online portal opening for 10million key workers and their families.
A further 15,000 testing slots at drive-through testing sites were taken this morning - forcing the government to close the entire self-testing website for the day.
It is unclear when the portal will reopen.
No10 said it would be when the next batch of test slots become available, but it's not known if that will be at midnight or later on the weekend.
Downing Street also confirmed that in the 24 hours up to 9am on Thursday, 23,560 tests for coronavirus were carried out.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters that total capacity for testing now stands at 51,121 per day.
The number of NHS care workers and relatives tested has reached 119,333, with absence rates due to coronavirus among doctors at 4.1% and 8.2% for nurses in the NHS in England.
That compares to 6.6% for doctors and 9.5% for nurses on April 4.
“I think it is important to point to progress there,” the spokesman said.
England's death toll rises to 17,373
NHS England has announced 587 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 17,373.
Of the 587 new deaths announced today:
- 107 occurred on April 23
- 242 occurred on April 22
- 55 occurred on April 21
The figures also show 151 of the new deaths took place between April 1 and April 20, while the remaining 32 deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 11.
NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed, and for data from the tests to be validated.
The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day, with a current total of 841.
Scotland's death toll rises to 1,184
In Scotland, 64 new deaths were announced, taking its toll to 1,184.
Speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said 9,697 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, an increase of 288 from 9,409 the day before.
The number of people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 is 1,710, a fall of 38 from 1,748 on Thursday, while 141 of these patients are intensive care, down seven, she added.
She said the drop in hospital and intensive care figures is a "growing cause for optimism that the lockdown is working to suppress the virus".
Since March 5, a total of 2,271 patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have been released from hospital, Ms Sturgeon added.
Wales' death toll climbs to 641
A further 110 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales bringing the total number of deaths there to 751, health officials said.
Public Health Wales said a further 243 people had tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 8,601.
Just 1,027 tests were carried out on Thursday, with a total of 29,931 carried out across Wales. There is current capacity for 1,800 tests daily.
Dr Robin Howe, from Public Health Wales, said: "Based on the new case numbers there is emerging evidence suggesting a levelling-off in the number of new cases of Covid-19 in Wales, which may be an indication of the effectiveness of lockdown measures.
"However, it is still too early to tell for sure, and it is too soon to end the current social distancing rules.
"Public Health Wales continues to fully support the extension of lockdown measures, which is essential to avoid reversing the gains we have made in slowing the spread of this virus, protecting our NHS, and saving lives.
Northern Ireland death toll hits 278
There have been 15 more deaths of patients who tested positive with coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
This brings the total in the region to 278.
