More than 40,000 people in the UK have now died after testing positive for coronavirus.
The latest figures show a daily increase of 123 hospital deaths across England, taking the UK total to 40,027. This means the UK has the highest death toll in Europe.
Indeed, the UK reported more deaths on Wednesday (359) than all the EU countries combined, which totalled 345 deaths across 27 nations. In fact, only the US has a higher death toll than the UK.
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What's more, the UK's death toll is believed to be at least 10,000 higher according to numerous statisticians, including the Office for National Statistics, who factor in 'excess deaths'.
These are deaths that may not have occurred in ordinary circumstances, and this figure is calculated by comparing data with the average number of deaths that occurred in the same period in the previous five years.
Speaking at prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Boris Johnson defended the Government's response to the pandemic.
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He said: "I take full responsibility for everything this government has been doing in tackling coronavirus and I'm very proud of our record.
"If you look at what we have achieved so far, it is very considerable. We have protected the NHS, we have driven down the death rate."
Johnson has also previously claimed direct comparisons with other countries can be misleading, as deaths are recorded differently and of course population sizes differ.
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The weekly rate of deaths and infections is also falling and the Government is gradually easing lockdown measures, with gathering in socially distanced groups of six permitted as of Monday.
Speaking back in March, before lockdown measures were introduced, Sir Patrick Vallance said keeping the death toll below 20,000 would be 'a good outcome in terms of where we hope to get to with this outbreak'.
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