COVID-19: Weekly deaths involving coronavirus fall for first time in three months, ONS says
Written by News on 15/12/2020
Registered weekly deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales have fallen for the first time in three months, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) says.
In the week ending 4 December, there were 2,835 deaths where “novel coronavirus” was mentioned on the death certificate – a fall of 205 from the previous week.
The last time a fall in weekly deaths was recorded was the week ending 4 September.
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The total number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week to 4 December was 12,303.
Nearly a quarter (23%) mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate.
The latest data covers the seven-day period during which the four-week national lockdown was lifted on 2 December.
The largest decrease in deaths was seen among those aged 80-84, with 60 fewer deaths compared to the previous week.
Three quarters of coronavirus-related deaths were in those aged 75 and over.
The number of deaths across all settings remains above the five year average, and the number of excess deaths in private homes during the pandemic now totals 36,369 – of which 9% involved COVID-19.
Deaths fell in all areas across England, apart from in the West Midlands, the East and London.
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However, in Wales the number of coronavirus-related deaths fell for the second week running from 218 to 207 – this remains 157 deaths higher than the five year average.
The fall in COVID-19 deaths comes ahead of what is widely expected to be a busy Christmas period, with scientists, health experts and some politicians calling for the government to reverse a relaxing of the rules.
(c) Sky News 2020: COVID-19: Weekly deaths involving coronavirus fall for first time in three months, ONS says
