New data suggests the UK is beginning to turn the tide against the coronavirus pandemic, with the weekly excess death toll falling by nearly 75% in a fortnight.
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that there were 3,000 more deaths in England and Wales than the five-year average in the first week of May.
But this is a dramatic fall on the figure of nearly 12,000 two weeks earlier.
Tragically the data reveals that the overall number of deaths is nearly 45,000 higher than expected between the start of the year and May 8.
The death rate surged dramatically last month, with 11,539 excess deaths reported in the week ending April 24.
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But data released this morning showed this number had fallen to 3,081 in the seven days to May 8.
By that date, the number of deaths registered so far this year stood at 259,906 - which is 44,742 higher than the five-year average.
Covid-19 was mentioned on 37,375 death certificates registered by May 8.
The ONS data shows 12,657 people died in England and Wales in the week ending May 8 - with 3,930 of these deaths linked to Covid-19.
This works out as 31.1% of all deaths - but is a decrease of 2,105 coronavirus deaths compared with the previous week.
Of these, more than a quarter occurred in care homes.
In the first week of May, 1,666 people died in English and Welsh care homes.
Nearly 40% of care home deaths were linked to the killer virus that week.
However experts have warned that because May 8 was a Bank Holiday, the figures should be treated with caution as the number of deaths registered was likely to be lower than the true figure.
For the second week running, the number of coronavirus deaths was highest in women aged 85 or over.
In its analysis, the ONS said that this is likely to be because the over-85 female population is higher than the number of men over 85.
In all other age groups, the number of male victims is higher than females.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at the ONS, said that death registrations for the week ending May 8 were about 20% lower than if there had been no bank holiday.
He told the BBC: "So, bearing that caveat in mind, there were 12,657 deaths registered across England and Wales, which is just over 5,000 lower than the week before.
"Still 3,000 above the five-year average, but remember that caveat, so we've probably been above about 15,000 if it wasn't for VE day bank holiday."
A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy and our deepest sympathies go out to the families who have sadly lost relatives.
“Supporting the social care sector throughout this pandemic is a priority. We are working around the clock to give the social care sector the equipment and support they need.
"We are ensuring millions of items of PPE are available to care workers, using our increased testing capacity to test care home residents and staff regardless of symptoms and introducing our new £600m Infection Control Fund to help prevent the spread in care homes.’’
