Covid weekly deaths in England and Wales up 50% in a week

England and Wales have recorded more than 300 deaths from Covid-19 in a week, an increase of 50% from the previous week.

In total, 327 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending July 23 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number is also a significant leap in recent months, with the closest being 362 deaths recorded in the week to April 16.

The latest figures reflect the impact of the third wave of Covid-19, which began in the UK in May and led to a sharp increase in the number of new cases of coronavirus as well as a smaller rise in hospital patients.

A total of 155,133 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate since the start of the pandemic, the ONS said.

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The highest number of deaths to occur on a single day was 1,484 on January 19.

During the first wave of the virus, the daily toll peaked at 1,461 deaths on April 8 2020.

The ONS also found a total of 35 care home resident deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales were registered in the week to July 23, up from 27 deaths in the previous week.

In total, 42,649 care home residents in England and Wales have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began.

The ONS figures cover deaths of care home residents in all settings, not just in the residence.

The number of new cases has fallen in recent weeks, but this is yet to be reflected in the data for deaths, due to the length of time between someone getting Covid-19, becoming seriously ill and then dying.

While the number of deaths in the latest week is the highest for three months, it is still well below the level seen at the peak of the second wave.