Covid loses place as top death cause

COVID-19 is no longer the leading cause of death in England and Wales.

The virus was only the third biggest killer last month, losing the No.1 spot for the first time since October, Office for National Statistics figures show.

The number of fatalities it caused was down by 75 per cent on February, amid the vaccine rollout.

In England the biggest cause of death was dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, on 10.1 per cent, with heart disease taking second place. In Wales, the top two were reversed, with heart disease accounting for 11.8 per cent.

But in both nations Covid was down in third, causing 9.2 per cent of deaths in England and 6.3 per cent in Wales.

‘It’s very good news to see that Covid-19 has been pushed off its depressing position as the leading cause of death,’ said Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at The Open University. ‘I expect it to have gone even further down this list when the April analysis comes out.’

Dr Yvonne Doyle, medical director of Public Health England, said: ‘Our actions are helping to reduce the spread of the virus with case rates falling in every age group.

‘It is essential we all continue following the guidance to ensure this continues. We are moving in the right direction, let’s keep going.’

Provisional figures show there were 956 fewer deaths overall last month than last March, although the total of 45,567 was 656 above the five-year average from 2015-19.

The toll of deaths after a positive Covid test rose by 18 yesterday to 127,345. The virus has been mentioned on 151,000 death certificates.