Weekly coronavirus deaths fall by almost a third as total nears 44,000

There have been 43,837 deaths in England and Wales up to May 22 which have mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate, according to official figures - which show weekly deaths fell by almost a third.

The number of deaths during the seven-day period reached its lowest level for seven weeks, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

A total of 2,589 deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales were registered in the week ending May 22.

This is down 32 per cent from the previous week ending May 15, when 3,810 deaths involving coronavirus were registered.

The ONS said there were 12,288 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending May 22 – a drop of 2,285 from the previous week, but still 2,348 more than the five-year average.

There were 1,289 excess deaths in care homes during the seven days, compared with the five-year average, and 24 fewer deaths in hospitals.

In total this year, the ONS said there have been 286,759 deaths to date in England and Wales – 51,466 more than the five-year average.

Of the deaths registered by May 22, 43,837 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate – 15.3 per cent of all deaths.

Detailed analysis on non-Covid-19 deaths will be published by the ONS on Friday.

The proportion of deaths in care homes involving coronavirus fell to below a third in the week ending May 22.

Coronavirus deaths have begun to fall, according to official figures (PA)

Some 32.5 per cent of all deaths in care homes involved Covid-19 during the seven days, compared with 37.2 per cent the week before.

Out of all deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales registered up to May 22 2020, 64 per cent (or 28,159 deaths) occurred in hospital, the ONS said.

A further 29 per cent (12,739 deaths) took place in care homes, with 5 per cent (1,991) in private homes, 1 per cent (582) in hospices, 0.4 per cent (197) in other communal establishments, and 0.4 per cent (169) elsewhere.

The ONS figures show that 147,863 deaths were registered in England and Wales between March 21 and May 22 2020.

This was 56,308 more than the average deaths for this period in the previous five years.

Covid-19 was responsible for 77 per cent of these excess deaths.