Hospital deaths drop below normal levels as Covid-19 deaths hit new low

Deaths in hospitals across England and Wales have fallen below normal as the number of people dying from Covid-19 in the UK has reached its lowest level since March.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 2,872 coronavirus deaths were registered across the country in the week ending 22 May, down from 4,213 in the previous week and the lowest total since the week ending 27 March.

It means that the total number of people to have died with the disease on their death certificate has now risen to 48,106 overall.

The number of deaths which were not linked to Covid have fallen to below average levels across the UK in the week ending May 22.

In total there were 13,826 deaths across the UK, higher than the average for the time of year of 11,235. But with 2,872 of those deaths linked to coronavirus by being mentioned on the death certificate, the total number of deaths without accounting for Covid-19 was 281 below average.

It is the second time during the course of the pandemic that deaths not linked to coronavirus fell below average. The first, in the week ending May 8, came as a result of a lower death count due to the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The number of excess deaths recorded during the crisis - i.e. the total number of people dying this year compared to the average - rose to close to 62,000.

The number of deaths being registered decreased in all regions of England and Wales with the South West being the closest to normal mortality levels.

Hospital deaths now below normal levels

The number of people dying in hospital in England and Wales has fallen to below normal levels for the second time in three weeks according to the ONS. This is despite the number of coronavirus deaths standing at 1,320 for that week.

Excess deaths fell in all settings in the week ending 22 May but they still remain above 1,000 in care homes and for people dying at home.

In total since the start of the pandemic, more than 25,000 excess deaths have now occurred in care homes in England and Wales.

Fewer than 13,000 of those have been linked to Covid-19.

In home settings, there have been almost 14,000 excess deaths since the beginning of March, but fewer than 2,000 have been Covid-19 related.

This figure will reinforce fears that people are dying from preventable causes at home to avoid going to hospital.

A total of 3,529 people died at home during the week ending May 22 - 1,108 more than average - but only only 109 of these people were recorded as having died with coronavirus.

The weekly death toll in care homes across England and Wales was 3,350. This is 1,289 more than average but this excess deaths figure has reduced considerably relative to the previous week's total of 2,350.