Sheffield coronavirus death toll nears 250 as new NHS figures are released

The city’s death toll has increased by one to 249 as another 166 fatalities have been recorded at hospitals in England.

The total number of confirmed reported deaths in the UK now stands at nearly 36,000 – but it is thought the true figure may be closer to 44,000.

The figure also does not include deaths in care homes.

The numbers relate to deaths recorded and reported in the last 24 hours.

Locally, Rotherham has seen 862 cases and 146 deaths, an increase of four while in Barnsley there have been 878 cases and 113 deaths, an increase of zero.

In Doncaster, there have been 153 deaths and 695 cases, up five on yesterday.

Across the UK, a further 166 people have died from COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 25,079.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK will be capable of tracking the contacts of 10,000 new coronavirus cases a day by the start of June.

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said there was "growing confidence" the UK would have a test, track and trace operation in place by 1 June, with 25,000 trackers.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had challenged the PM over the absence of a tracing system since March.

June 1 is also being mooted as a return to school date, although many authorities have said they will not open schools on that date.