The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK has surpassed 32,000 and is now the highest in Europe.
New Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed 29,648 people had died with Covid-19 mentioned on their death certificate in England and Wales up to 24 April. When added to figures from Scotland and Northern Ireland, the UK death toll exceeds 32,000. Italy has recorded 29,029 deaths, which was previously the most in Europe.
The ONS data showed that, in total, 38,554 more people have died during the coronavirus crisis than would normally be expected, with only 71 per cent attributed to Covid-19, leaving thousands of deaths officially “unexplained”. Many of these were likely linked to coronavirus, either directly or because other healthcare services have been impacted. These “excess deaths” are determined by comparing the death toll with comparable weeks over the past five years.
In the week to 24 April alone, 21,997 people died in England and Wales, more than twice the average of 10,458 deaths over the past five years.
However, today’s figures show the number of excess deaths, and the number of total deaths from all causes, both fell slightly in the week to 24 April compared to the previous week. That suggests the peak of fatalities may have passed.
The chart below shows that the number of weekly deaths from all causes was generally in line with expectations before the start of the coronavirus outbreak in March.
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