The number of people who have died in hospital in the UK after contracting coronavirus is now more than 3,600.
Within the past few days, the death toll has jumped considerably, with 684 further deaths in the past day.
A total of 38,168 people have now tested positive for the virus in the UK, and 3,605 of those hospitalised have sadly died.
More than 173,784 Covid-19 tests have now been carried out.
The latest update from the Department of Health and Social Care read: "As of 9am 3 April, a total of 173,784 people have been tested of which 38,168 tested positive.
"As of 5pm on 2 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 3,605 have sadly died."
Thursday's figures confirmed a further 569 people had died, bringing the number of deaths of those hospitalised to 2,921.
The government's figures on deaths relate to patients who have died in hospital and does not include deaths in the community, for example in care homes, so the true death toll will be higher.
Friday's update comes amid the news of a nurse and mum-of-three who has died in hospital after contracting coronavirus.
Tributes have been paid to Areema Nasreen, 36, as her family warned the public to stay at home.
It also follows the government press conference yesterday evening led by health secretary Matt Hancock, who had come out from self-isolation after testing positive last Friday.
Mr Hancock said the rate of infection has been doubling every three to four days.
"We express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims," he said.
"We are steadfast in our resolve to defeat this invisible killer."
He also laid out a 'five pillar' testing strategy, which should result in 100,000 tests being carried out a day by the end of the month - up from 10,000 a day currently.
Mr Hancock also confirmed the government is considering issuing people with immunity certificates once antibody tests are ready to be rolled out.
