The UK’s coronavirus hospital death toll has increased to 29,440 after 142 more deaths were reported in 24 hours - the lowest daily rise on a Tuesday since the lockdown period began.
England recorded 116 new deaths, Scotland had 18, Wales recorded eight and Northern Ireland did not register any new fatalities.
The daily increase of 142 is down considerably from recent Tuesday totals of 227 on May 19, 425 on May 12, 453 on May 5, 653 on April 28 and 873 on April 21.
The government's official death toll of 36,914 will be updated later, but will still not tell the full tale.
New numbers released today from the Office for National Statistics indicate the real figure has passed 47,000.
These figures show that 42,173 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England and Wales up to May 15 (and had been registered up to May 23).
The latest figures from the National Records of Scotland, published last week, showed 3,546 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to May 17.
And the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 664 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Northern Ireland up to May 20.
Together these figures mean that so far 46,383 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
A further 964 hospital patients in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between May 16 and May 24, according to figures published on Monday by NHS England - which, together with the total figure of 46,383 registered deaths, indicates the overall death toll for the UK is now just over 47,300.
