FOI Ref: FOI/2022/3525
You asked
Please supply the number of Covid deaths relating to ICD U07.1 verified covid positive test only since records began.
We said
Thank you for your request.
This information is published monthly within our Monthly Mortality Analysis publication.
Our definition of COVID-19 (regardless of whether it was the underlying cause or mentioned elsewhere on the death certificate) includes some cases where the certifying doctor suspected the death involved COVID-19 but was not certain (U07.2). For example, a doctor may have clinically diagnosed COVID-19 based on symptoms but this diagnosis may not have been confirmed with a test, so they may write "suspected COVID-19" on the death certificate.
As of December 2021, of the 140,794 deaths due to COVID-19, 4,148 (2.9%) were classified as "suspected" COVID-19. Therefore, 136,646 deaths registered due to COVID-19 in England and Wales were coded to U07.1 ICD-10 code
Including all 159,210 deaths involving COVID-19, "suspected" COVID-19 was recorded 4,773 deaths of all deaths in England and Wales (excluding non-residents). Therefore, 154,437 deaths registered in England and Wales were coded to U07.1 ICD-10 code.
Further information on the ICD-10 definition of COVID-19, can be found in the methodology article. For further information, please contact Health.Data@ons.gov.uk.