Heatwave is blamed for rise in deaths as virus hits a low

AUGUST’S heatwave has caused an increase in UK deaths, while coronavirus fatalities are the lowest since before lockdown, official figures show.

Deaths in the UK have risen above average for the first time since midjune, but coronavirus is not behind the higher numbers.

The heatwave experienced during the week ending Aug 14 is likely to explain the weekly increase, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There were 9,392 deaths from all causes in England and Wales in that period – 447 more than the previous week. This took the number of deaths that week to 3.4 per cent above the average for this time of year over the past five years, the first time the average has been exceeded since June 12.

Meanwhile, there were 139 registered in the week ending Aug 14 that mentioned “novel coronavirus”, an 8.6 per cent fall from the 152 in the week before. It is the lowest number of weekly Covid-19 deaths registered since the week ending March 20.

Overall, there were 10,580 deaths from all causes registered across the UK in the week ending Aug 14 – 265 more than the five-year average, and 370 more than in the previous week.

England had the highest number of deaths involving Covid-19 with 125, followed by Wales with 14, Northern Ireland with four and Scotland with three.

The ONS said: “The rise in deaths coincided with high temperatures in England and Wales, and heatwave warnings were issued by NHS England.

“The increase was likely due to the heatwave; the coronavirus did not drive the increase.”

The figures show that of all deaths involving Covid registered until Aug 14, almost two thirds occurred in hospitals. In total, Covid was mentioned on 52,026 death certificates, 13.1 per cent of all deaths in England and Wales.

In total, 32,995 deaths occurred in hospitals, 15,415 occurred in care homes, 2,456 occurred in private homes and 742 in hospices.