There were more than 39,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales up to May 8, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) number of 39,071 deaths is 32% larger than the figure announced by government for the same time period.
It means the UK's actual virus death toll in that period was more than 9,000 higher than the official government figure.
The news has confirmed fears that the overall death toll in the country is significantly higher than the one being published by the government.
Today's ONS data also shows the huge and tragic impact that the virus is continuing to have on the nation's care homes.
There were 9,980 deaths related to Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales up to May 8.
This is referring to those people who died in the homes themselves, the ONS believes this number increases to around 12,500 when including care home residents who died in hospital.
Overall, the percentage of coronavirus deaths that have occurred in care homes (up to May 8) in the country stands at 39%.
The overall number of deaths in England and Wales in the first week of this month was more than 3,000 higher than average.
However experts have warned that because May 8 was a Bank Holiday, the figures should be treated with caution as the number of deaths registered was lower.
In Liverpool, the virus impact on care homes looking after vulnerable residents has been huge.
More than 50% of Liverpool’s care homes have reported outbreaks of Covid-19.
47 Liverpool care homes have reported coronavirus outbreaks, which works out as 53% of all care homes in the city.
In total, there were 163 suspected or confirmed outbreaks of Covid-19 in Merseyside’s care homes between March 9 and May 10.
That means 39%, or just under two in every five, Merseyside care homes have reported coronavirus outbreaks.
