The latest number of Covid-19 weekly deaths is at its highest total for seven days since April.
A total of 218 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending July 16 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – up 19% on the previous week.
It is the highest total since 260 deaths in the week to April 23.
A total of 154,661 deaths have now occurred in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, the ONS said.
The highest number of deaths to occur on a single day was 1,483 on January 19.
During the first wave of the virus, the daily toll peaked at 1,461 deaths on April 8 2020.
In two regions of England, the number of deaths involving Covid-19 registered each week has climbed to the highest level since March.
North-west England saw 71 deaths registered in the week to July 16.
This is the highest number for the region since 106 deaths were registered in the week to March 26, according to the latest ONS figures.
In north-east England, 24 deaths were registered in the week to July 16 – the highest since 35 deaths in the week to March 26.
