The coronavirus hospital death toll has climbed by 21 today as further lockdown measures were announced for parts of the UK.
NHS England said 18 patients had died in its hospitals while Wales recorded three fatalities. Scotland and Northern Ireland said there were no further deaths there.
The latest figures represent the highest daily increase since July 25th. Last Thursday there were just nine Covid-19 fatalities recorded across hospitals in the UK.
A total of 290 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland in the past 24 hours, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced earlier today.
Wales registered 130 new infections. England will announce its latest virus caseload later today.
The total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 29,705.
Patients were aged between 56 and 95 years old. All but two patients had known underlying health conditions.
Yesterday a further 20 deaths were added to the toll, with 17 in England, two in Northern Ireland and one in Scotland.
The news comes as Matt Hancock confirmed coronavirus restrictions affecting millions of people across the North East of England will come into force from midnight tonight.
The Health Secretary confirmed the sweeping changes that include a 10pm to 5am curfew for pubs and restaurants and a ban on meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble.
Hospitality for food and drink will be restricted to table service only.
Tougher rules will affect Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland, North and South Tyneside, Gateshead and County Durham council areas, where rates of coronavirus have been on the rise.
The Health Secretary said the battle against coronavirus "is not over" and further action was needed as winter approaches.
Mr Hancock told MPs: "Like many other countries around the world, we are continuing to see a concerning rise in cases - with 3,991 new cases recorded yesterday.
"And this week the number of patients in mechanical ventilator beds has risen above 100 for the first time since July.
"The battle against coronavirus is not over and while we strain every sinew to spring free of its clutches, with winter on the horizon we must prepare, bolster our defences and come together once again against this common foe."
