Coronavirus deaths fall to lowest number recorded since before lockdown
Statistics show there were 8,845 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending August 7 – the eighth week in a row deaths were lower than the five-year average.
Just 152 (1.7%) of those deaths were caused by coronavirus, down 21.2% on the week before, the ONS said.
The figure represents the lowest number of deaths involving Covid-19 since the week ending March 20 – three days before the UK entered lockdown.
Deaths involving coronavirus decreased or remained steady across most of England, with six out nine regions experiencing a below-average death rate.
In England, the North West had the highest coronavirus death toll (33), followed by the South East (24), Yorkshire and the Hamber (16), East Midlands (16), West MIdlands (13), East (11), London (8), North East (5) and South West (2).
Wales had the highest proportion of coronavirus deaths per population with 24.
The majority of coronavirus deaths occurred in hospitals (63.4%), followed by care homes (29.6%), private homes (4.7%) and hospices (1.4%), the ONS reported.
Covid-19 continues to kill more people with underlying conditions or are older, than those who are younger and fitter.
Those aged 90 and over accounted for the highest number of coronavirus deaths fatalities, the statistics show.
The ONS said: ‘Some of these deaths would have likely occurred over the duration of the year but have occurred earlier because of Covid-19.
‘These deaths occurring earlier than expected could contribute to a period of deaths below the five-year average.’
It comes as the World Health Organisation warns coronavirus is being spread by young people who show no symptoms.
WHO Western Pacific director Takeshi Kasai said people in the 20s, 30s and 40s may be unaware they are infected.
He added: ‘This increases the risk of spillovers to the most vulnerable, the elderly, the sick in long-term care, people who live in densely populated urban areas and underserved rural areas.’
According to John Hopkins University, more than 21 million people have become infected worldwide, with more than 13 million recoveries.
At least 774,000 people have died.
