Another 684 people have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus – bringing the total number of deaths to 3,605.
The number of deaths, tallied in the 24 hours up to 5pm on Thursday, marks the largest increase so far, with the previous day recording 569 people.
The Department of Health said as of 9am on Friday, 38,168 people had tested positive for the virus across the UK.
Number of deaths in each country, as reported by each home nation so far:
Scotland: 46 more deaths – a total of 172
Wales: 24 more deaths – a total of 141
The Department of Health compiles its figures from data supplied by the four countries’ health agencies, who then release their own figures, often taking into account more deaths and figures.
As the number of deaths and cases increased, Boris Johnson announced he would not be coming out of self-isolation on Friday as he still has a temperature.
The prime minister had been self-isolating in his Downing Street flat after testing positive for coronavirus last Friday.
Health secretary Matt Hancock returned to work on Friday after recovering from coronavirus for the opening of the NHS Nightingale Hospital in east London.
Prince Charles officially opened the hospital via video link from his home in Scotland, thanking all those who have transformed the ExCeL Centre into a 4,000 bed hospital in just nine days.
