The rate of UK deaths has risen above the five-year average but this is "likely due to the heatwave" not coronavirus, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
A total of 9,392 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending August 14 – 307 above the five-year average of 9,085.
This took the number of deaths that week to 3.4 per cent above the average - the first time the average has been exceeded since June 12.
The increase was not driven by Covid-19 with coronavirus deaths continuing to steadily fall, the ONS said.
Instead the rise above the five-year average was “likely due to the heatwave” that affected England and Wales during this period.
The UK recorded six consecutive days above 34C for the first time in nearly 60 years earlier in August.
Temperatures soared to over 37C during the sweltering heatwave and saw the hottest day in August since 2003.
Meanwhile, just under 57,200 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered in the UK, according to the ONS
Figures published on Tuesday by the ONS show that 52,091 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to August 14, and had been registered by August 22.
Meanwhile, figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,216 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to August 16.
In Northern Ireland, 866 deaths had occurred up to August 14 (and had been registered up to August 19) according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
Together, these figures mean that so far 57,173 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
Of the deaths registered in the week to August 14, 139 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate – down from 152 in the previous week.
Seven regions of England had deaths above the five-year average in the week ending August 14, the ONS said.
They were north-east England (11.1 per cent above), the East Midlands (9.9 per cent above), London (5.5 per cent above), north-west England (5.2 per cent above), south-west England (4.3 per cent above), eastern England (1.4 per cent above) and south-east England (1.3 per cent).
In two regions the number of registered deaths was below the five-year average: the West Midlands (2.1 per cent below) and Yorkshire & the Humber (2.2 per cent below).
In Wales, the number of deaths registered in the week to August 14 was 9.4 per cent above the five-year average.
