The number of people dying of the coronavirus is now falling in almost all age groups for the first time since the start of Britain’s epidemic, official statistics show.
In the week that ended on June 12, a total of 865 people died with Covid-19, which was the lowest weekly number in three months – since March 20.
And it was also the first time the number of fatalities dropped below 1,000 since the outbreak spiralled out of control in the spring.
Office for National Statistics data now shows that the weekly registrations of coronavirus deaths did not increase in any age groups in the week to June 12.
It was stagnant among 25 to 29-year-olds, among whom there has been one death per week for three weeks, but fell in all other groups.
The biggest drop was among the over-90s, who have been hardest hit by the virus. The most recent week of data saw 127 fewer deaths than the week before, and there were 94 fewer victims announced in people in their late 80s.
Today’s data adds to figures showing the virus is retreating in England and Wales, with lockdown rules expected to be loosened further today and Prime Minister Boris Johnson claiming on Sunday that Covid-19 is ‘increasingly under control’.
At least 53,738 people had been killed by the coronavirus by June 12, statistics show, which is 11,000 more than the Department of Health has counted. In May the virus killed people at twice the rate of any other disease, including dementia.
Data published today shows that the number of people dying with the coronavirus appears to have stopped rising among people of all ages.
This is the first time since the beginning of the pandemic that it’s happened, the ONS said in its report.
The most recent statistics, for the week between June 6 and June 12, showed that 1,114 deaths were registered then, down from 1,588 the week before.
While the number of deaths being recorded stayed still for some younger age groups, among whom there were one or zero deaths, it fell in all groups over the age of 29, which accounted for all but one of the fatalities (99.9 per cent).
The biggest proportional fall was among 65 to 69-year-olds, where deaths fell by 46 per cent in a week.
Fatalities dropped by 40 per cent in 35 to 39-year-olds, by 36 per cent among 50 to 54-year-olds and 34 per cent in those aged 55 to 59.
The biggest reduction in number was in over-90s, who are the worst affected by the disease. There was a drop of 127 deaths week-on-week among them – from 404 to 277.
| Age group | Deaths week ending June 5 |
Deaths week ending June 12 |
# change in deaths |
% change in deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 1-4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 5-9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 10-14 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -100% |
| 15-19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 20-24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| 25-29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| 30-34 | 3 | 0 | -3 | -100% |
| 35-39 | 5 | 3 | -2 | -40% |
| 40-44 | 6 | 5 | -1 | -17% |
| 45-49 | 10 | 8 | -2 | -20% |
| 50-54 | 25 | 16 | -9 | -36% |
| 55-59 | 41 | 27 | -14 | -34% |
| 60-64 | 47 | 34 | -13 | -28% |
| 65-69 | 84 | 45 | -39 | -46% |
| 70-74 | 129 | 92 | -37 | -29% |
| 75-79 | 198 | 139 | -59 | -30% |
| 80-84 | 297 | 224 | -73 | -25% |
| 85-89 | 337 | 243 | -94 | -28% |
| 90+ | 404 | 277 | -127 | -31% |
| ALL | 1,588 | 1,114 | -474 | -38% |
Today’s data also shows that the number of people dying each week has fallen to a 12-week low.
Looking at the actual dates on which people died – a different measure to when the deaths were registered – there were 865 fatalities in the week to June 12.
This was below 1,000 for the first time since March 20 – before lockdown – when 401 people died.
It was the lowest figure for 12 weeks and a 32 per cent drop from 1,276 the week before.
The ONS also shows that 48,866 people had been killed by the coronavirus by mid-June in England and Wales alone.
Combined with data from National Records Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, this puts the UK death toll at 53,738.
The number is 11,000 higher than the 42,647 recorded by the Department of Health because it includes everyone who has the virus mentioned on their death certificate, regardless of whether they have been tested.
The downside to the ONS number is that it has to be done over a longer period of time so it’s 10 days behind the present day.
Another measure of deaths caused by the pandemic, excess deaths, now sits at 65,173 across Britain.
This measures the number of deaths above average for the year so far, and may include people who didn’t actually catch Covid-19 but died because they could not – or would not – go to hospital, for example.
The number of excess deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending June 12 was 559, according the ONS.
That was the lowest number since the week ending March 20.
In the week ending June 12 the number of deaths in hospitals was below average, marking the second week in a row there had been no excess deaths in hospitals.
There were still excess deaths registered in both care homes and private homes during this week, although the number was down on the previous seven days.