Death rates in UK are now below average

But does rise in those dying at home mean they missed urgent care?

Death rates in the UK have dropped below normal levels in a sign that coronavirus is finally in retreat.

Figures published yesterday show the number of deaths registered in mid-June dipped below the average for the time of the year – and for the first time since early March.

It came as the virus death toll rose by 155 yesterday, bringing the total to 43,730.

the figures seem to mark a turning point in the fight against the disease – but they also bring a warning that the urgent medical needs of many may have been sidelined.

this is because although there were fewer deaths than normal in hospitals and care homes across england and Wales, the toll hit 3,069 in private homes – more than a third higher than the five-year average. health experts have continually warned over the past three months that patients needing treatment may have been avoiding going to hospital.

the Office for National Statistics figures, covering deaths registered in the week to June 19, found across the UK there were 10,681, eight fewer than the average for the same week over the past five years.

In england and Wales there were 9,339 deaths – 637 less than the previous week and a dip of 65 on the five-year average. the ONS report said: ‘the number of deaths in care homes and hospitals were also fewer than the five-year average – 49 and 782 deaths lower respectively – while the number of deaths at home was 827 higher than the fiveyear average.’

Doctors recorded that the patient suffered from coronavirus on 783 death certificates, which is less than one in ten deaths in england and Wales.

Four regions in england had death rates below the average, three in the South. the rate was 4 per cent below average in the South east and South West, nearly 7 per cent lower in the east and 3.7 per cent down in the North West. But the death rate stayed at 6.6 per cent above average in the east Midlands, where Leicester is now returning to lockdown after a spike in cases.

Deaths were 7.7 per cent above the average level in Wales, the ONS said.

It added that by June 19, the number of deaths in england this year hit 306,948, around 20 per cent above the five-year average and 52,586 more deaths than normal. Of these, just under one in six – 15.3 per cent or 46,904 deaths – were linked to Covid-19 on death certificates. the Local Government association, the umbrella body for councils paying for many care home residents, warned the elderly and vulnerable are still at risk. Ian hudspeth said: ‘Worryingly the number of people dying at home is still higher than the five-year average, which could suggest some are choosing not to go to hospital or to receive help elsewhere.’

Researchers in China have discovered a new type of swine flu that is capable of triggering a separate pandemic and has already been transferred to humans. Named G4, it comes from the strain that caused a pandemic in 2009 and has ‘the essential hallmarks’ of being able to infect humans, the scientists said.

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‘More people dying at home’