The number of people who have died in hospital in Britain from the novel coronavirus has risen to 12,868, according to health ministry figures published on Wednesday.

This is an increase of 761 on the previous day and official figures also showed that the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 has now reached 98,476.

The ministry said 313,769 people have been tested positive in the last 24 hours.

The true UK death toll far exceeds the hospital toll as people have also died in nursing homes and in the wider community, Reuters reported, citing broader data on Tuesday.

The official British death toll is the fifth-highest globally after the United States, Italy, Spain and France. Scientists and opposition leaders have said they fear the United Kingdom could be the worst-hit country in Europe.

Source: Reuters and AFP