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U.K. Reports 761 More Coronavirus Deaths, Down From Day Before

U.K. Reports 761 More Coronavirus Deaths, Down From Day Before

(Bloomberg) --

A further 761 deaths in U.K. hospitals were reported on Wednesday, the latest figures show, as the government faces a decision on extending the country’s lockdown.

A total of 98,476 people have now tested positive for the disease, compared to 93,873 yesterday, the figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show.

Some 15,994 tests were conducted on April 14, well below the target of 100,000 tests a day the government has set to reach by the end of April.

The figures are being closely watched as an indication of how much longer the country’s lockdown will last. The government must decide by Thursday whether to renew the three-week lockdown and for how long any extension will last.

The U.K. government has also set out plans to provide tests for residents and staff in care homes. The impact of the virus among the elderly population has been partially excluded from the daily reported data, as deaths reported by the Department of Health only include those who died in a hospital.

The U.K.’s regulatory body for the health and social care services sector, the Care Quality Commission, said on Tuesday it will seek to provide more frequent updates on deaths in adult social care.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.