Coronavirus deaths in England and Wales have dropped to the lowest levels since before lockdown with only 350 people dying of the disease in the week ending July 10.
In contrast 418 coronavirus deaths were reported in both countries in the seven days before and more than 8000 deaths were recorded during the peak of the pandemic in April. The total number of deaths in England and Wales in the year from all causes stood at 8690 in the first week of July which is lower by 560 than the five-year average.
On Tuesday Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data that showed that around 51,000 coronavirus deaths in England and Wales and have occurred up to 10th of July which was registered by the 18th of July. The data also showed that the number of fatalities related to COVID-19 has fallen in all of Wales and England as the virus slowly continues to come under control.
The experts at ONS also revealed that coronavirus pandemic increased the rate of death of people who might have died for other causes which means this year’s death rate has been front-loaded. That’s why fewer people are dying cause of reasons such as dementia or heart disease as they have already succumbed to Covid-19.
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Deaths due to Pneumonia and Influenza were reported to be 917 in the same week when coronavirus deaths in England and Wales were around 350. Usually, the deaths related to Coivd19 are much higher. Separate data showed that coronavirus infection levels have stabilized in the UK and there are some suggestions that the number of deaths may further reduce due to warmer weather.
However, scientists are concerned that the virus may return in winter and cause more deaths when people are more vulnerable.
Since the start of the pandemic, a total of around 51000 deaths have occurred related to Covid19 and in the same period, 25,055 people died due to pneumonia or flu. However, since then the gap has gradually narrowed as flu and pneumonia became a more likely cause of death for the first time in the week ending June 19 when there were 219 fewer coronavirus deaths than deaths related to flu or pneumonia.
This is the fourth week in a row that the deaths recorded are lower than the five-year average.
The number of deaths in hospitals and care homes in the week ending July 10 was also below the average but the number of people who died in private homes was higher than the average by 706.
Director of the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) at University of Oxford Professor Carl Heneghan said the last four weeks have seen fewer deaths than the average of last five years and this week saw 560 fewer deaths as compared to the five-year average and in the last month, 986 fewer deaths were reported than the five-year average.
Dr. Heneghan who is also an epidemiologist added that the significant trend in reducing deaths compared to the five-year average is likely because the old and weak died months earlier because of Covid19.
He also said that it will be essential to see if this good trend continues in the coming weeks.