Covid-related deaths rise in England with infections at record high – The Guardian

Covid-related deaths in England have jumped to their highest level since mid-February, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

There were 780 deaths where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate in the seven days leading up to 25 March up 14% on the previous week. This increase follows several weeks where deaths appeared to have levelled off.

Coronavirus infections have been rising across the UK since early March, driven by the Omicron BA.2 variant. Prevalence of the virus is currently at a record high, with ONS figures suggesting approximately 4.9 million had Covid in the week to 26 March. This increase may now be having an impact on the number of deaths, which typically lag behind infections by several weeks.

The death toll is the highest since 18 February when 863 deaths were recorded although this is still lower than at the peak of the first the Omicron wave when 1,484 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week to 21 January. It is also well below the 8,433 deaths registered at the peak of the second wave of coronavirus in the week to 29 January 2021.

In total 190,053 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the ONS. The number of people in hospital in the UK with coronavirus is close to the total reached at the start of this year but is still far below levels recorded in early 2021.

This relatively low number of deaths and hospitalisations largely reflects the success of the vaccination programme in particular the rollout of booster doses at the end of 2021. A fourth spring booster dose of vaccine is being offered to people aged 75 and over, care home residents and those aged 12 and over with weakened immune systems.

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Covid-related deaths rise in England with infections at record high - The Guardian