THERE have been 65,700 excess deaths in the UK during the coronavirus crisis, according to a “cautious” estimate.
The latest figures come after the Office for National Statistics released new data on excess fatalities in England and Wales.
Another 559 deaths were recorded, bringing the “cautious” total estimate under the Financial Times’ model to 65,700.
Economics editor Chris Giles tweeted: “That is almost 1 in 1000 people dying, directly or indirectly, from coronavirus.
“Deaths are still above normal levels for the time of year in England (not North East) and Scotland. But they are returning to normal as this epidemic comes under control.”
Update: The latest ONS figures show another 559 excess deaths in England & Wales in week ending 12 June.
— Chris Giles (@ChrisGiles_) June 23, 2020
A cautious estimate of the total number of excess UK deaths to 22 June is now
65,700
Of these 65,202 have happened so any revisions will be small
1/ pic.twitter.com/WgxcsBgtTr
READ MORE: English people think Nicola Sturgeon is handling coronavirus crisis better than Boris Johnson
A separate calculation by the PA news agency puts the number of deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK at more than 54,000.
The total includes the ONS figures, which show that 48,866 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to June 12 (and had been registered by June 20).
Stats published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4070 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to June 14.
The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 802 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in Northern Ireland up to June 12 (and had been registered up to June 17).
Together these figures mean that so far 53,738 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
Between June 13 and June 21, a further 317 hospital patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 died in England, according to NHS England; while a further 29 people in hospital and care homes who had tested positive for Covid-19 died in Wales, according to Public Health Wales.
And in Northern Ireland, a further five people who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between June 13 and June 21, according to the Northern Ireland Department of Health.
These add up to a further 351 deaths that have occurred since June 13, and together with the total figure of 53,738 registered deaths, means the overall Covid-19 death toll for the UK is now just over 54,000, at 54,089.
Details of deaths that took place in Scotland since the cut-off point for the latest registration data (June 14) are not available, because the Scottish Government does not report deaths by the date on which they occurred.
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