Death toll falls for first time in 3 months

THE number of deaths caused by Covid-19 has dropped for the first time in three months, figures show.

There were 2,835 people who died with virus symptoms in England and Wales in the week which ended on December 4, the last week of the second lockdown.

This made up nearly a quarter of all deaths but was 205 fewer than in the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said. It was the first fall in Covid deaths since early September.

It indicates that fewer people were contracting the virus in the days after the second lockdown began in November.

But the time lag before the ONS publishes its figures – 11 days after the week they cover – means they say nothing about the effects of the recent increase in infections, particularly in London. There were 60 fewer deaths linked to Covid-19 among people aged between 80 and 84 in the week which ended on December 4 than in the previous week.

There were 12,303 deaths overall in England and Wales, 153 fewer than in the week before, but the total remained 15 per cent above the average for the time of year.

The ONS figures are based on registered deaths and conditions on death certificates by doctors, meaning its count is different to daily Government figures, which cover deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

Across the UK the number of deaths in the week ending December 4 was 13,956, of which 3,160 involved Covid-19, 211 fewer than the previous week.