MORE than 61,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now occurred in the UK, new statistics show.

Figures published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 54,609 deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in England and Wales up to October 16 and had been registered by October 24.

Separate figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed 4,376 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to October 18.

A total of 942 coronavirus-related deaths occurred in Northern Ireland up to October 16 and had been registered up to October 21, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Together, these figures mean that so far 59,927 deaths have been registered in the UK when Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

But since these statistics were compiled, a further 1,189 deaths are known to have occurred in the UK, according to additional data published on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard.

In England, 1,044 Covid-19 deaths are known to have taken place between October 17 and 25, with 62 in Wales and 47 in Northern Ireland.

In Scotland, 36 deaths occurred between October 19 and 25.

When all these totals are added together, it means that so far 61,116 deaths involving Covid-19 have taken place in the UK.

All figures are based on the most recent update, which took place on Monday afternoon.

The number of weekly registered deaths involving coronavirus has risen by more than half in seven days, new figures have shown.

There were 670 deaths registered in England and Wales which mentioned “novel coronavirus” in the week ending October 16, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

This is a rise of 53% from the previous week, when 438 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered.

It is the sixth consecutive rise and the highest number of registered deaths involving Covid-19 since the week ending June 19.

Deaths increased in all regions in England and Wales, and in hospitals, care homes, hospices, private homes and other communal establishments.

The biggest rise was in those over 90, with Covid-19 deaths almost doubling – 132 deaths in the week ending October 16, up from 67 deaths the previous week.

Of the latest deaths, 521 occurred in hospitals, 106 in care homes, 33 in private homes, six in hospices, two in other communal establishments and two elsewhere.

About one in eight (12%) of the 4,346 registered hospital deaths in the week ending October 16 involved coronavirus.

Looking at hospital deaths on the day they occurred, there were 86 deaths on October 15.

This is the highest number of daily deaths for four months, since 90 deaths occurred in hospitals on June 10.