IN UK A POSITIVE TEST RESULT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ASSIGN ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE THAT CAUSE OF DEATH WAS COVID-19

We've been seeing this in the USA.

Here it is in the UK: whoever signs the death certificate does not need a positive test result for Covid-19 to assign the cause of death as Covid-19.

9. Glossary

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths are those deaths registered in England and Wales in the stated week where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate as “deaths involving COVID-19”. A doctor can certify the involvement of COVID-19 based on symptoms and clinical findings – a positive test result is not required.

[source : Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 24 April 2020, ONS, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending24april2020, 5th May 2020]