Coronavirus deaths drop to lowest number in one week since before lockdown, ONS data shows

England and Wales have recorded the lowest number of weekly deaths involving coronavirus since the UK went into lockdown in March.

A total of 8,945 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending August 7, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – 157 fewer than the five-year average of 9,102.

This is the eighth week in a row that deaths have been below the five-year average.

Of the deaths registered in the week to August 7, 152 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate – the lowest number of deaths involving Covid-19 since the week ending March 20 (103 deaths).

Just over 57,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered in the UK.

Figures published by the ONS on Tuesday show that 51,935 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to August 7, and had been registered by August 15.

Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,213 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to August 9, while 859 deaths had occurred in Northern Ireland up to August 7 (and had been registered up to August 12) according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.

Together, these figures mean that so far 57,007 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

More follows...