Covid:  UK’s official death toll reduced by 5,377

The UK’s official coronavirus death toll has been reduced by more than 5,000 following a review of how the figures are calculated, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.

The DHSC said the change came after the UK Government and devolved administrations agreed to publish the number of deaths that have occurred within 28 days of a positive lab-confirmed Covid test result each day.

Previously deaths were included for anyone who had died following a positive coronavirus test at any point.

A new set of figures showing the number of deaths that occur within 60 days of a positive test will also be published in England, it added.