Spike in deaths in Kent as North-West records highest mortality rate

THREE AREAS of Kent recorded some of the highest Covid-19 mortality rates in England last month, new figures show – though the levels were much lower than those seen in parts of the country at the peak.

Ashford saw the highest mortality rate involving Covid-19 in June, with a rate of 36.5 deaths per 100,000 people.

It was followed by Tameside in Greater Manchester (23.9) and then two more local authorities in Kent: Dover and Folkestone & Hythe (both 21.7).

It comes as three more people were reported yesterday to have died with coronavirus in Yorkshire hospitals up to 5pm the day before.

At the height of the coronavirus outbreak in April, parts of London were recording monthly rates that were considerably higher, such as Brent (151.9), Newham (137.8) and Hackney (126.6). The figures for June reflect the changing impact of Covid-19 in England, as outbreaks become more localised and the virus circulates at a lower level.

North-West England had the highest coronavirus mortality rate of all regions in England last month but at a level of 9.0 deaths per 100,000, down from 27.5 in May. By contrast, South-East England, which includes Kent, saw a rate of 4.9 in June, down from 17.9 in May.

North-East England saw the biggest drop, from 33.5 in May to 7.2 in June. In London the rate fell from 16.2 in May to 3.1 in June, having peaked at 94.7 in April.

The Office for National Statistics figures are based on all deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate and which had been registered by July 11.