The true extent of Britain's Covid-19 death toll was more than 40 per cent higher than the government's daily figures indicated as of April 10, according to data that put the country on track to become among the worst-hit in Europe, Reuters reports.

The Office for National Statistics said it recorded 13,121 deaths by April 10 in England and Wales, which account for the vast majority of Britain's population, compared with 9,288 in the government's daily toll for those who died in hospital.

The ONS figures include deaths in care homes — which have doubled in less than a month — as well as in hospitals.

“The sharp rise in care home deaths is deeply alarming this could be the second front in the battle against COVID-19,” said Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents organisations across the healthcare sector.

Around 84pc of Covid-19 deaths have taken place in hospitals, with the remainder in care homes, private residences and hospices, the ONS said.