Coronavirus: New ONS figures reveal 40 extra deaths linked to COVID-19
New figures suggest that outside of hospitals there are 24% more people dying with suspected coronavirus.
Tuesday 31 March 2020 14:27, UK
There have been 40 extra deaths linked to coronavirus than previously reported by hospitals, new figures suggest.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Tuesday published new figures that showed there were 210 deaths relating to COVID-19 in England and Wales up to 20 March.
These were the total number of deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate - even if only suspected - and includes those who died at home and in care homes, as well as in hospitals.
The ONS figures include deaths that occurred up to 20 March, but were officially registered up to 25 March.
By comparison, over the same period up to 20 March but using data only from hospitals, NHS England and Public Health Wales previously reported 170 deaths of people who tested positive for coronavirus.
The difference in figures suggests that, outside of hospitals, there are 24% more people dying with suspected coronavirus.
What do the figures show?
By Laura Bundock, Sky News correspondent
To understand what these ONS figures tell us, it's important to understand what they are measuring.
The ONS figures show the overall number of officially registered deaths that involve COVID-19 in a weekly period.
Up until now we have had daily figures for the number of people in hospital who have died after testing positive.
The big difference is the ONS figures include deaths in the community, for example if a person dies at home, or in a care home.
What we now know is, for the period up to the 20 March, there were an extra registered 40 deaths related to COVID-19.
This means while it may not have been the cause of death, a doctor has deemed it a contributing factor.
Because we do not yet have widespread community testing for the virus, some of these deaths may well be suspected cases.
The ONS figures will now be published every Tuesday, and while there is an 11-day time lag, they will be vital in understanding how the virus is spreading outside our hospitals.
Despite the time delay, these figures tell us a lot about the virus.
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They show 60% of those who died are men, with the greatest proportion of deaths in London (41%).
We can also see how older people are more at risk, with 73% of deaths in people over 75, and 42% in people over 85.
It is worth noting that when looking at the total number of people who've died in this period, only 1% of these deaths involve COVID-19.
The number of UK coronavirus deaths has been accelerating so this is likely to change when the next set of figures is published.