Coronavirus deaths in England and Wales 41% higher than official figures

Labour has called on the government to publish daily figures showing “the true scale of the problem.”

Coronavirus-related deaths were more than 40 per cent higher in England and Wales than the government’s official figures suggested, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Weekly figures from the ONS that take into account coronavirus deaths registered outside of hospital, revealed that 13,121 coronavirus-related deaths occurred in England and Wales since the outbreak began – 41 per cent more than the supposed figure of 9,288 deaths reported by the Department of Health.

The ONS said the numbers are based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions.

ONS figures reveal hundreds of deaths that have gone unreported by the government's daily updates.

Its latest weekly report showed that a total 1,662 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered outside of hospitals in England and Wales in the week up to April 10.

The equivalent figure for hospital deaths over the period is 8,673.

Of the deaths outside hospitals in the week up to April 10, 1,043 took place in care homes, 466 in private homes, 87 in hospices, 21 in other communal establishments and 45 elsewhere.

Labour's shadow social care minister Liz Kendall said the figures showed the "terrible toll" Covid-19 is taking on care home residents.

"Yet these awful figures are only scratching the surface of the emerging crisis in social care,” she argued, “because they are already 11 days out of date.”

"The government must now publish daily figures of Covid-19 deaths outside hospital, including in care homes, so we know the true scale of the problem.

"This is essential to tackling the spread of the virus, ensuing social care has the resources it needs and getting vital PPE and testing to care workers on the frontline.”

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to scotsman.com and enjoy unlimited access to Scottish news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.scotsman.com/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Frank O'Donnell

Editorial Director