United Kingdom coronavirus death toll, Wednesday, passed 30,000 as 649 more people died across the country.
Health authorities confirmed the overall number of fatalities had hit 30,076 as the deadly bug continues to spread.
And 6,111 new cases of the deadly bug were recorded in the past 24 hours after 69,463 tests were administered.
The rise corresponds to a rise in testing over the past few weeks as the government vowed to expand capacity with 1,448,010 tests undertaken in total.
While coronavirus continues to spread, the number of deaths by the UK’s population remains lower than Spain, tracking just above Italy and France.
In good news, less than a third of critical care beds are now occupied by coronavirus patients – a steady decrease over the past two weeks.
According to figures released on Tuesday by the Office of National Statistics, the UK passed Italy to record the highest death toll in Europe.
The shock numbers revealed 29,648 deaths in England and Wales saw coronavirus recorded on death certificates up to April 24 – higher than Italy’s current total of 29,315.
While these statistics make for grim reading for Brits, each country’s population is different, and has a different way of recording the deaths making it difficult to compare like for like.
And the nation’s top scientist last night said he was “optimistic” that Britain will avoid a second deadly wave of coronavirus.
Sir Patrick Vallance told MPs: “I think if we do test, track and tracing well, and we keep the social distancing measures at the right level, we should be able to avoid a second wave.”
PM Boris Johnson is to reveal this weekend how restrictions will be eased.
