True UK Covid-19 death toll reaches 26,097 as new figures include care home and community deaths

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A total of 26,097 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus, Public Health England has said.

New Government figures incorporating care home and community deaths were released for the first time on Wednesday.

The new death toll, as of 5pm on Tuesday, is a jump from yesterday's figure of 21,678 - which only included hospital deaths.

The figure was announced after the Government pledged to include deaths in the community in its daily death toll figures.

It previously faced criticism over the fact the daily number of Covid-19 deaths provided by the Department of Health had only included hospital fatalities.

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