The number of people to have died with coronavirus in the UK has exceeded 100,000 according to the latest figures.
The grim milestone in the year-long fight against the virus shows that there have been nearly 104,000 deaths since the pandemic began, according to data from the UK’s Office of National Statistics.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to front a Downing Street press conference at 5pm on Tuesday at which he will be confronted with the figures showing the UK as having the highest covid death toll in Europe.
The figures, which go up to 15 January, are based on death certificates. The daily figures used by governments across the UK, which rely on positive tests, are slightly lower.
The Office for National Statistics and its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland registered 7,776 deaths with coronavirus on the death certificate in the most recent week meaning the total now stands at around 115,782 deaths.
Last April, there were two weeks with more than 9,000 coronavirus deaths registered across the UK but there have been no other weeks with more than 7,000 deaths registered.
About nine in ten death certificates cited coronavirus registered Covid as the cause of death.
Most of the deaths have been in older age groups, nearly three-quarters of those who have died with the virus were over 75. One in three deaths were care home residents.
It follows a surge of cases last month which means the UK with one of the highest coronavirus death rates globally.
The UK is one of just five countries to pass the 100,000 milestone, following the USA, India, Mexico and Brazil, leaving it with the highest death toll in Europe.
The US, which had a milder first wave than the UK, has seen steady numbers of coronavirus deaths throughout summer and autumn.
Its death toll has been catching up with that of the UK in the most recent data, covering up until Christmas.
