Coronavirus: England and Wales death toll falls for first time since lockdown began
The number of deaths in England and Wales fell for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown began, according to data released today for the week to 24 April.
England and Wales recorded 21,997 total deaths for the week to 24 April, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures revealed.
That is a decline of 354 deaths compared to the previous week. And it is the first time deaths have fallen since 20 March.
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The UK entered lockdown over the coronavirus outbreak on 23 March.
However, the figure is 11,500 deaths higher than the five-year average death toll for England and Wales.
And coronavirus was still responsible for 37.4 per cent of all deaths, down from 39.2 per cent the previous week. That equates to a decrease of 521 coronavirus deaths week on week.
In London more than half (50.5 per cent) of deaths were related to coronavirus.
Hospital deaths from all causes dropped by 1,191 to 8,243. But care home deaths increased by 595 from the previous week to 7,911.
Read more: England’s coronavirus hospital death toll sees smallest rise since March
In the 17 weeks since the ONS began measuring coronavirus deaths in England and Wales, 71.8 per cent have occurred in hospital. Care homes account for most others, now totalling 5,890.
England saw its lowest daily increase of Covid-19 deaths since late March yesterday. Another 204 people died to bring the country’s total to 21,384 today.
Overall more than 250,000 people worldwide have now died from coronavirus.
UK now has Europe’s highest death toll
The UK has now recorded more than 30,000 coronavirus deaths, the highest total in Europe, according to data released today.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) counted 29,648 deaths from coronavirus as of 24 April in England and Wales in figures released today.
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Together with deaths in Scotland and Northern Ireland, that means the UK’s total number of people who have died from coronavirus has now surpassed Italy’s total.
It means the UK inow has the most coronavirus deaths in Europe. Those deaths come from fewer infections than Italy: the UK counts 191,832 coronavirus cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Italy, by comparison has 211,938.