England and Wales register 17,751 deaths in week up to 8 January
Written by News on 19/01/2021
There were 17,751 deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 8 January – up 7,682 on the preceding week, new figures show.
Of the deaths registered, 6,057 mentioned “novel coronavirus“, accounting for 34.1% of all deaths in England and Wales, according to figures from Office for National Statistics.
This nearly doubled on the previous week when 3,144 deaths occurred from the virus and represents a 92.7% increase.
The figures are affected by the Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Bank Holidays, whose registration was delayed.
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The number of deaths involving COVID-19 increased in all English regions, compared with the previous seven days to 1 January.
Two regions saw more than 1,000 coronavirus deaths registered in the week to 8 January: south-east England, where the total increased week-on-week from 523 deaths to 1,197; and London, where the total rose from 492 to 1,047.
In Wales, the number of deaths involving coronavirus increased from 310 in the previous week, to 454.
Separately, one in eight – or 5.4 million people – aged 16 years and over in England would have tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in December, the ONS Infection Survey has found.
This is the highest proportion of the population since the Infection Survey began estimating antibody prevalence in May, and suggests how many people likely had the infection in the past.
Although, some data suggests infections are starting to fall.
On Sunday the UK recorded a further 38,598 confirmed coronavirus cases within 24 hours – the lowest number so far this year.
This dropped further still on Monday when 37,535 were recorded.
It comes as scientists warn people could become less strict at sticking to coronavirus rules as more of the population is vaccinated – leading to another rise in cases.
The government advisory board SAGE said this behaviour could lead to a spike that outweighs the gains made by the vaccination programme.
More than four million people, including more than half of over-80s, have now had a vaccination in the UK.
Most have had a first jab but until the second jab is given, they won’t have the maximum level of protection that it can provide. Over 450,000 people have had a second dose.
Analysis: The latest figures come with a warning
By Adele Robinson, Sky correspondent
The highest weekly number of COVID-19 related deaths has been recorded in England and Wales since April.
6,057 deaths mentioning COVID on the death certificate were registered in the week ending the 8 January.
It is a rise of 2,913 on the previous week and the highest since the week ending April 24.
The Office for National Statistics warn that the figures should be “interpreted with caution” due to registrations being affected by festive bank holidays.
As always the death statistics do not provide an up-to-date picture of the current pandemic situation either.
Infections are starting to fall but this won’t be reflected in the number of deaths registered for a number of weeks.
They also don’t reflect the new lockdown measures which came into force at the beginning of January.
(c) Sky News 2021: England and Wales register 17,751 deaths in week up to 8 January
