North-West ‘overtakes’ London with worst virus death toll in the country

LONDON may no longer have the worst coronavirus death toll in the country, according Public Health England data.

The capital has been overtaken by the North West, where there have been 6,935 deaths involving Covid-19. By comparison, there have been 6,887 coronavirus deaths in London over the same period, 48 fewer.

The figures emerged in the latest weekly Covid surveillance report from PHE, which includes data up until last Tuesday.

It also shows the North West has recorded 11,114 more cases of coronavirus than London since the pandemic began — 46,906 compared with 35,792.

London has recorded 77 Covid deaths per 100,000 population, while the North West has seen 95 deaths per 100,000.

The continuing slowdown in mortality and comparatively low infection rate could provide reassurance to encourage more people to return to work in central London.

According to PHE’s latest report, there were 30 more coronavirus deaths in London recorded in the previous seven days. The week before had seen 45 deaths in the capital.

Separate PHE figures seen by the Standard show that infection rates have increased week on week in 17 of the 32 boroughs but remain well below those recorded in the Midlands and North.

The highest rate was recorded in Hackney and the City — the two boroughs being combined for statistical purposes due to the small number of residents in the Square Mile — where 17 people per 100,000 population tested positive for the virus.

Barking and Dagenham was second highest at 12.3 cases per 100,000, followed by Hounslow on 10 and Barnet on 9.4. By comparison, Blackburn with Darwen was on 77.9, Leicester was on 55.5, Oldham on 56.5 and Bradford on 48.8.

London’s overall infection rate was estimated at 6.0 between July 29 and August 4, up 0.1 on the previous week but double the figure six weeks earlier after six successive weekly increases.

PHE said a total of 4,130 new cases were detected across England in the most recent week, up 68 on the previous seven days. These figures relate to “pillar one” tests in hospitals and care homes and “pillar two” tests in drivethrough centres and mobile units.

The PHE mortality figures contrast with those published by the Office for National Statistics, which are considered to offer the fullest estimate of the impact of Covid-19.

According to the ONS, a total of 8,479 deaths involving coronavirus had been registered in the capital up to July 24, and 7,708 in the North West.