UK COVID-19 deaths top 37,000 as another 134 patients die

Another 134 COVID-19 patients have died in Britain, bringing the total coronavirus-related death toll in the country to 37,048, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.

The figures include deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community.

As of Tuesday morning, 265,227 people have tested positive in Britain, a daily increase of 2,004, according to the department, Xinhua reported citing officials.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced on Tuesday that 42,173 deaths involving coronavirus occurred in England and Wales up to May 15. The ONS uses an alternative measure as its figures are based on all mentions of COVID-19 on a death certificate, including suspected cases.

Together with the latest figures in Scotland and Northern Ireland, 46,383 deaths have so far been registered in Britain where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to The Guardian newspaper.

Chairing Tuesday's Downing Street daily briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government has signed contracts to manufacture 2 million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) in Britain, and has signed deals with more than 100 suppliers around the world.

He also announced that Britain is starting a trial using the antiviral medicine Remdesivir on selected COVID-19 patients, describing it as "probably the biggest step forward in the treatment of the virus since the crisis began".

The antiviral medicine was developed for Ebola, but initial trials on COVID-19 patients showed it could reduce recovery times by about four days.