The British government says the UK. has recorded 881 new deaths of people with the coronavirus.

The number is lower than in the previous 24 hours, in which 938 deaths were recorded.

As of Thursday, 7,978 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK.

Britain's death toll is close to the daily peaks recorded in Italy and Spain, the two countries with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths.

Italy recorded a high of 969 deaths on March 27 and Spain 950 deaths on April 2.

The figures may not be directly comparable, however. Not all the UK deaths reported each day occurred in the preceding 24 hours, and the total only includes deaths in hospitals.