The number of people who have died across the UK after testing positive for coronavirus has increased by 693 to nearly 30,000.
Dominic Raab announced at the Downing Street press conference that the death toll now stood at 29,427.
This includes people who have died at hospitals, care homes and across the wider community.
Earlier on Tuesday, the ONS released data which suggested the death toll could be higher than 32,000.
NHS bodies also announced that the death toll among hospital patients had risen by 433.
They include 366 people in England, 44 in Scotland, 26 in Wales, and 17 in Northern Ireland.
Of the 21,750 confirmed reported deaths so far in hospitals in England of people who tested positive for Covid-19, 11,412 (52%) have been people aged 80 and over while 8,442 (39%) were 60-79.
A further 1,732 (8%) were aged 40-59, with 153 (1%) aged 20-39 and 11 (0.05%) aged 0-19, according to NHS England.
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The number of deaths announced so far by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has reached 786.
This is the highest number for any trust in England.
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has announced 530 deaths.
Four trusts have announced between 400 and 500 deaths: the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (446), King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (444), Barts Health NHS Trust (416) and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (401).
Asked about the latest statistics on the UK’s death toll, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said that "every death is a tragedy"
“Every death from coronavirus is a tragedy" he said.
"We are working night and day to give all of those affected the best possible support.
“In terms of the general trend that the death statistics set out, I would point you to the PM’s words last week where he said we are past the peak of this disease and on the downward slope but we remain in a dangerous phase and must recognise the risk of a second peak.
“We must continue to do all that we can to suppress the virus and keep the reproduction rate down.”
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The spokesman pointed to England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty’s comments last week about the problems with comparing death rates with other countries at this stage.
