Covid-19 deaths in England and Wales have risen to the highest level since the first wave of the disease, amid government warnings that the strain of the virus in the UK could be more deadly than originally thought.
The number of deaths involving the disease rose nearly 20 percent to 7,245 in the week ending Jan. 15, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday, the third-highest pandemic. The data show that deaths in London, which are at the heart of the current outbreak, are more than 84% above the five-year average for the second week in a row.
The balance of the dead
Coronavirus deaths in England and Wales have risen by 20% in the last week
Source: Bureau of National Statistics
The death toll in the UK from Covid-19 is about to exceed 100,000 this week, and hospitals are close to capacity. Daily infections have begun to decline with the nation in a severe blockage, while a rapid release of vaccines offers some the hope that the tip passes.
- Total deaths in England and Wales were 30.5% above the five-year average.
- Deaths involving the virus accounted for 40.2% of all deaths in England and Wales in the week – the highest proportion recorded
- Almost 90% of all deaths involving Covid are registered as the main cause, compared to 7.2% for those who mention influenza and pneumonia.