GOVERNMENT figures show that 498 more people have died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of today, bringing the UK total to 57,031.

Separate figures published by the UK’s statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 72,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK.

A further 351 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital in England, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths reported in hospitals to 39,570, NHS England said today.

The patients were aged between 30 and 102.

All except 11, aged between 38 and 90, had known underlying health conditions.

The deaths were between October 29 and November 25, with the majority on or after November 23.

The Government said that, as of 9am on today, there had been a further 17,555 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.

It brings the total number of cases in the UK to 1,574,562.

Figures show that in the North-East and North Yorkshire region, there have been a further 1,045 positive coronavirus cases recorded in the 24-hours up to 9am today.

Here is a breakdown of cases by local authority area:

County Durham: 18, 680 was 18,486– an increase of 194

Darlington: 3,204 was 3,168 - an increase of 36

Gateshead: 7,601 was 7,551– an increase of 50

Hartlepool: 3,787 was 3,739– an increase of 48

Middlesbrough: 5,465 was 5,413 was 5,352 – an increase of 52

Newcastle: 15,425 was 15,337– an increase of 88

North Tyneside: 6,556 was 6,467– an increase of 89

North Yorkshire: 12, 956 was 12,840– an increase of 116

Northumberland: 8,149 was 8,046– an increase of 103

Redcar and Cleveland: 4,428 was 4,384– an increase of 44

South Tyneside: 5,549 was 5,488– an increase of 61

Stockton: 7,334 was 7,271 was 7,149 – an increase of 63

Sunderland: 10,773 was 10,701– an increase of 72

York: 5,5776 was 5,547– an increase of 29

Total increase: 1,045