The entrance to one of five Covid-19 wards at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside
(Picture: PA Archive)A total of 571 deaths registered in England and Wales mentioned Covid on the death certificate in the week ending August 13.
The figures are up eight per cent on the previous week, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and is the highest total since 719 deaths in the week to March 26.
Meanwhile, around one in 18 deaths registered in the week to August 13 (5.5 per cent) mentioned Covid on the death certificate.
At the same time, some 57 care home resident deaths involving Covid in England and Wales were registered in the week to August 13, up from 50 the previous week.
In total, 42,805 care home residents in England and Wales have had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began. The ONS figures cover deaths of care home residents in all settings, not just in care homes.
A total of 156,958 deaths have occurred in the UK where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said.
The highest number on a single day was 1,484 on January 19. During the first wave of the virus, the daily toll peaked at 1,461 on April 8, 2020.
It comes as it was confirmed that almost 5,000 Covid cases may be linked to a surf festival in Cornwall.
Organisers of Boardmasters said they are working with public health officials after a number of revellers tested positive for the virus when they returned home.
Some 4,700 coronavirus cases are now suspected to be linked to the event near Newquay, which took place between August 11 and 15.
