Coronavirus cases in UK go past 100,000 mark with more than 13,000 patients dead

The Department of Health says 13,729 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK and there have been 103,093 confirmed cases since the epidemic began.

The UK now has more than 100,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus - but the true total is believed to be much higher due to a lack of testing.

The Department of Health said that, as of 9am on Thursday, 327,608 people have been tested of which 103,093 tested positive.

Overall, 417,649 tests have concluded, with 18,665 tests carried out on Wednesday, excluding data from Northern Ireland.

The UK joins the US, Spain, Italy, France and Germany as being one of only six countries worldwide to register 100,000 cases. China, where the disease originated, has recorded only 82,000, although that figure has been disputed.

A total of 13,729 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday, the Department of Health said, up by 861 from 12,868 the day before.

Hundreds or even thousands more are thought to have died in care homes, private homes and hospices.

There are signs that the UK is reaching the peak and the curve is flattening, according to Government advisers, who say they will have a better grasp of the trend within the next 10 days.