No pandemic deaths in 71 local authorities during July, figures reveal

ONLY two local authorities recorded more than 20 Covid-related deaths throughout July, with 71 seeing no fatalities, government data has shown.

The Office for National Statistics published data yesterday revealing that there were 51,831 deaths in England and Wales between March 1 and July 31 2020 and registered by August 15 2020 that involved Covid-19. This repre- sented 20 per cent of all deaths occurring over this period, which was 259,199 deaths.

The ONS also found that only two areas recorded more than 20 deaths involving Covid-19 occurring in July: Leicester with 24 deaths (10.0 deaths per 100,000 population) and Ashford with 21 deaths (16.2 deaths per 100,000).

In comparison, in May 224 local authorities had more than 20 deaths (16 in Wales, 208 in England). In June, there were 39 (three in Wales, 36 in England).

Leicester had the highest number of deaths in July, with 24 deaths and a rate of 10 deaths per 100,000 population.

This was higher than the number of deaths recorded in March (16 deaths and a rate of seven deaths per 100,000) but lower than the numbers in April (153 deaths), May (87) and June (35).

Meanwhile, Ashford recorded 21 deaths in July 2020; this was lower than the numbers of deaths in April, May and June (53, 47 and 47 deaths respectively). The rate in July was 16.2 deaths per 100,000 population, significantly lower than April, May and June. There were only three deaths that occurred in March, meaning that an age-standardised rate was not available.

Researchers also found that the mortality rate for people living in the most deprived areas is more than double the rate of those in the least deprived.