The number of people who have died across England, Scotland and Wales after contracting coronavirus has risen by 164 in 24 hours.
NHS England announced 147 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,691.
Meanwhile, Scotland announced nine further deaths, Wales reported seven and Northern Ireland confirmed one.
The new figures for hospital deaths were announced ahead of the official death toll including care home and community deaths later on Sunday.
It comes as Scotland’s Health Secretary Jeane Freeman issued a reminder to everyone in Scotland about the rules around self-isolation, saying the “message may have become confused in the last 24 hours because of events in other parts of the UK”.
Alluding to reports about Dominic Cummings allegedly breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by making a 250-mile journey to visit his family, Ms Freeman said self-isolating is not the same as lockdown and means “you should not leave the house for any reason”.
Boris Johnson is under renewed pressure to sack the 48-year-old adviser after it was claimed Mr Cummings travelled to visit his family a second time, despite official guidelines warning against long-distance journeys.
Steve Baker became the first Conservative MP to break ranks and demand that Boris Johnson sack Dominic Cummings over his alleged breach of lockdown rules.
