Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional: week ending 21 August 2020

• The number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending 21 August 2020 (Week 34) was 9,631; this was 239 deaths higher than in Week 33.

• In Week 34, the number of deaths registered was 5.2% above the five-year average (474 deaths higher); this is the second consecutive week that weekly deaths have been above the five-year average, however, the rise was not driven by the coronavirus (COVID-19).

• The numbers of deaths in hospitals, care homes and other locations were below the five-year average in Week 34, while the number of deaths in private homes continued to be higher than the five-year average (825 more deaths).

• Of the deaths registered in Week 34, 138 mentioned "novel coronavirus (COVID-19)", the lowest number of deaths involving COVID-19 in the last 22 weeks and a 0.7% decrease compared with Week 33 (1 death), accounting for 1.4% of all deaths in England and Wales.

• The number of deaths involving COVID-19 decreased or remained the same across the majority of the English regions, with two of the nine regions having fewer overall deaths than the five-year average.

• In Wales, the number of deaths involving COVID-19 decreased to 11 deaths (from 14 deaths in Week 33), while the total number of deaths in Week 34 was above the five-year average (21 deaths).

• Of all deaths involving COVID-19 registered up to Week 34, 63.4% occurred in hospital, with the remainder mainly occurring in care homes (29.6%), private homes (4.7%) and hospices (1.4%).

• The number of deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 21 August 2020 (Week 34) was 10,967, which was 572 deaths higher than the five-year average and 390 deaths higher than Week 33; of the deaths registered in the UK in Week 34, 149 deaths involved COVID-19, 3 deaths higher than Week 33.

Figure 1: The number of deaths in England and Wales involving COVID-19 decreased for the 18th consecutive week

Number of deaths registered by week, England and Wales, 28 December 2019 to 21 August 2020

The provisional number of deaths registered in England and Wales increased from 9,392 in Week 33 (week ending 14 August 2020) to 9,631 in Week 34 (week ending 21 August 2020). The number of deaths was above the five-year average for the second consecutive week, with 474 deaths higher (5.2%). The coronavirus (COVID-19) did not drive the increase, as deaths involving COVID-19 continued to decrease in Week 34 (Figure 1).

COVID-19 has had a large impact on the number of deaths registered over the last few months and is the main reason for deaths increasing above what is expected (the five-year average). The disease has had a larger impact on those most vulnerable (for example, those who already suffer from a medical condition) and those at older ages. Some of these deaths would have likely occurred over the duration of the year but have occurred earlier because of COVID-19. These deaths occurring earlier than expected could contribute to a period of deaths below the five-year average, as seen in Weeks 25 to 32.

The number of death registrations in England and Wales involving COVID-19 decreased by 1 death from 139 in Week 33 to 138 in Week 34, the lowest number of COVID-19 deaths registered since Week 12 (week ending 20 March) when 103 deaths involved COVID-19. Of all deaths registered in Week 34, 1.4% mentioned COVID-19, down from 1.5% in Week 33.

In England, the number of deaths increased from 8,767 in Week 33 to 9,021 in Week 34, which was 461 deaths higher than the Week 34 five-year average. Of the Week 34 deaths, 1.4% (126 deaths) involved COVID-19 in England.

In Wales, the number of deaths decreased from 617 in Week 33 to 594 in Week 34, which was 21 deaths higher than the five-year average. Of these, 1.9% (11 deaths) involved COVID-19.

In Week 34, in England and Wales, 13.4% of all deaths mentioned "Influenza and Pneumonia", COVID-19 or both, compared with 12.1% in Week 33. "Influenza and Pneumonia" has been included for comparison, as a well-understood cause of death involving respiratory infection that is likely to have somewhat similar risk factors to COVID-19.

Figure 2: The number of deaths not involving COVID-19 increased above the five-year average for a second week

Number of deaths registered by week, England and Wales, 28 December 2019 to 21 August 2020

Between Weeks 1 and 12, 138,916 deaths were registered, which was 4,822 fewer than the five-year average for these weeks. However, between Weeks 13 and 34, 269,148 deaths were registered, which was 58,373 more than the five-year average. Week 34 was the second consecutive week where deaths were higher than the five-year average (474 deaths higher) (Figure 2).

Looking at the year-to-date (using the most up-to-date data we have available), the number of deaths up to 21 August was 408,032, which is 53,519 more than the five-year average. Of the deaths registered by 21 August, 52,173 mentioned COVID-19 on the death certificate, 12.8% of all deaths in England and Wales.

Looking at the year-to-date for England and Wales separately, the number of deaths for England was 383,154, which is 51,897 (15.7%) more than the five-year average. Of these, 49,537 (12.9%) mentioned COVID-19. In Wales, the number of deaths up to 21 August was 24,285, which is 2,067 (9.3%) more than the five-year average; of these, 2,562 deaths (10.5%) mentioned COVID-19.

In Week 34, the number of deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England and Wales remained similar across most age groups, compared to Week 33, with the largest difference in those aged 90 years and over where deaths decreased by 21. The number of deaths involving COVID-19 remained higher in the older age groups, with those aged 85 to 89 years accounting for the highest number of deaths involving COVID-19 (25.4%).

Looking at the year-to date, for most age groups there have been more deaths involving COVID-19 in males than in females (Figure 3). Across Weeks 1 to 34 of 2020, 55.0% of all deaths involving COVID-19 were in males. However, there were more deaths in females aged 85 years and over (11,939) than males aged 85 years and over (10,098). This could be because the over-85-years female population (939,000) is larger than the over-85-years male population (564,000) in England and Wales.

Figure 4: The number of deaths in Week 34 increased in Yorkshire and The Humber, the West Midlands, the East of England, the South East and South West

Number of deaths in Wales and regions in England, registered between 28 December 2019 and 21 August 2020

In Week 34 (week ending 21 August 2020), there were 11 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) registered in Wales. Out of the English regions, the North West had the largest number of deaths involving COVID-19 (33 deaths) while the East Midlands had the highest proportion of deaths involving COVID-19 (2.7%). More detailed geographic analysis between 1 March and 31 July 2020 can be found in our Deaths involving COVID-19 by local area and socioeconomic deprivation release.

Notes:

1. Based on area of usual residence, boundaries correct as of May 2020.
2. Figures exclude deaths of non-residents.
3. Based on date a death was registered rather than occurred.
4. All figures for 2020 are provisional.
5. The averages are based on the number of death registrations in each region, recorded for each corresponding week over the previous five years. Moveable public holidays, when register offices are closed, affect the number of registrations made in the published weeks and in the corresponding weeks in previous years.

The number of deaths registered in Week 34 was higher than the five-year average in the majority of the English regions except the North East (1.8% below) and Yorkshire and The Humber (2.6% below). In Wales, the number of deaths registered in Week 34 was 3.7% (21 deaths) higher than the five-year average (Table 1).

The year-to-date analysis shows that, of deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) up to Week 34 (week ending 21 August 2020), 63.4% (33,076 deaths) occurred in hospital, with the remainder occurring in care homes (15,460 deaths), private homes (2,468 deaths), hospices (746 deaths), other communal establishments (221 deaths) and elsewhere (202 deaths).

Between Weeks 33 and 34, the number of deaths involving COVID-19 decreased in hospitals but increased or remained similar across all other settings. Deaths involving COVID-19 in hospitals as a proportion of all deaths in hospitals decreased from 2.3% in Week 33 to 1.9% in Week 34. Deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes as a proportion of all deaths in care homes increased from 2.0% in Week 33 to 2.2% in Week 34. Detailed analysis on deaths of care home residents is available in Deaths involving COVID-19 in the care sector, England and Wales: deaths occurring up to 12 June 2020 and registered up to 20 June 2020.

As well as Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides numbers of deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes in England that are based on the date the death was notified to the CQC. From 10 April (the first day when data were collected using the CQC's new method of identifying deaths involving COVID-19) to 28 August 2020, there were 14,193 deaths of residents in care homes involving COVID-19. Of these deaths, 16 were notified in the week up to 28 August. More information on the data provided by the CQC can be found in our joint transparency statement.

The Welsh Government publishes the number of deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19 notified to the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) which can be found on their website.

More information on how these numbers have compared throughout the pandemic can be found in our previous Comparison of weekly death occurrences in England and Wales release.

Figure 5: Deaths in private homes remained above the five-year average in Week 34

Number of excess deaths by place of occurrence, England and Wales, registered between 28 December 2019 and 21 August 2020

In Week 34, deaths in hospitals, care homes and other locations were below the five-year average by 300, 1 and 51 deaths respectively, while the number of deaths in private homes continued to be above the five-average, with 825 excess deaths (Figure 5).

Looking in more detail at deaths in private homes in Week 34, females accounted for more excess deaths (439 deaths) than males (386 deaths), while those aged 70 years and over accounted for the majority of the excess compared with younger age groups (707 deaths in those aged 70 years and over, compared with 118 in those aged under 70 years). More detailed analysis of excess deaths in England is produced by Public Health England (PHE) on a weekly basis.

Figure 6 is based on date of death for deaths registered up to 29 August 2020, rather than date of registration. This means as more deaths are registered, deaths per day are likely to increase, especially for later dates. Looking at the number of deaths that occurred in Week 34, 65.4% of deaths occurred in hospitals, and care homes accounted for 23.4% of all deaths involving COVID-19; this may change as more deaths are registered.

Across the UK, there were 10,967 deaths (all causes) registered in Week 34 (week ending 21 August 2020), which was 572 deaths higher than the UK five-year average and 390 deaths higher than Week 33. Of these deaths, 149 involved the coronavirus (COVID-19), three deaths higher than in Week 33.

In Week 34, England had the highest number of deaths involving COVID-19 with 126 deaths, followed by Wales with 11 deaths and Northern Ireland and Scotland with 6 deaths each.

We previously published this section as a separate article on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website, which provided a more thorough description of the differences between different data sources. This section will look at the number of deaths by date of death produced by the ONS compared with death notifications reported by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). For Wales, we can also compare the reconciled DHSC data by date of death released by Public Health Wales (PHW).

On 12 August 2020, Public Health England (PHE) revised their data series to include two measures: deaths of positively tested individuals where the death occurred within 28 days and deaths within 60 days of a positive test. More information on these changes can be found in their technical summary.

In England, including deaths that occurred up to 21 August 2020 but were registered up to 29 August 2020, of those we have processed so far, the number involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) was 49,579. The comparative number of death notifications reported by the DHSC on GOV.UK where the deaths occurred within 28 days of testing was 36,782 and the number of deaths by date of death showed 36,807; the comparative number of death notifications where the deaths occurred within 60 days of testing was 40,590 and the number of deaths by date of death showed 40,672.

In Wales, including deaths that occurred up to 21 August 2020 but were registered up to 29 August 2020, of those we have processed so far, the number involving COVID-19 was 2,564; the comparative number of death notifications reported by the DHSC on GOV.UK where the death occurred within 28 days of testing was 1,590 and PHW numbers, which come from the same source as the DHSC figures but are continuously updated, showed 1,593 deaths.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths

Coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths are those deaths registered in England and Wales in the stated week where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. A doctor can certify the involvement of COVID-19 based on symptoms and clinical findings – a positive test result is not required. Definitions of COVID-19 for deaths in Scotland and Northern Ireland are similar to England and Wales.

More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in the Mortality statistics in England and Wales QMI.

To meet user needs, we publish very timely but provisional counts of death registrations in England and Wales in our Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional dataset. These are presented by sex, age group and regions (within England) as well as for Wales as a whole. To allow time for registration and processing, these figures are published 11 days after the week ends. Because of the rapidly changing situation, in this bulletin we have also given provisional updated totals based on the latest available death registrations, up to 29 August 2020.

Because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, our regular weekly deaths release now provides a separate breakdown of the number of deaths involving COVID-19: that is, where COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions. If a death certificate mentions COVID-19, it will not always be the main cause of death but may be a contributory factor. This bulletin summarises the latest weekly information and will be updated each week during the pandemic.

These figures are different from the daily surveillance figures on COVID-19 deaths published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) on the GOV.UK website, for the UK as a whole and its constituent countries. Figures in this report are derived from the formal process of death registration and may include cases where the doctor completing the death certificate diagnosed possible cases of COVID-19, for example, where this was based on relevant symptoms but no test for the virus was conducted.

From 29 April 2020, the DHSC started to publish as their daily announced figures on deaths from COVID-19 for the UK a new series that uses improved data for England produced by Public Health England (PHE). These figures provide a count of all deaths where a positive test for COVID-19 has been confirmed, wherever that death has taken place, a change from previously reporting only confirmed COVID-19 deaths in hospitals. Figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had already begun to include deaths outside hospitals, so this change ensured that the UK-wide series had a shared and common definitional coverage. A statement was published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which provides more detail of the changes.

On 12 August 2020, the PHE data series was revised to include two measures: deaths of positively tested individuals where the death occurred within 28 days and deaths within 60 days of a positive test. More information on these changes can be found in their technical summary (PDF, 854KB).

In contrast to the GOV.UK figures, we include only deaths registered in England and Wales, which is the legal remit of the ONS. Tables 2 and 3 provide an overview of the differences in definitions between sources.

We will publish accompanying articles periodically, giving enhanced information such as age-standardised and age-specific mortality rates for recent time periods and breakdowns of deaths involving COVID-19 by associated pre-existing health conditions.

There is usually a delay of at least five days between occurrence and registration. More information on this issue can be found in our impact of registration delays release.

Our User guide to mortality statistics provides further information on data quality, legislation and procedures relating to mortality and includes a glossary of terms.

Figures are based on the date the death was registered, not when it occurred. There is usually a delay of at least five days between occurrence and registration. More information on this issue can be found in our impact of registration delays release.