This report reveals that the death toll in England and Wales is at its highest level since weekly statistics began 15 years ago, with 16,387 deaths registered in the week ending 3 April – 37% more than expected.

Data from the Office for National Statistics show that the reported number of deaths is 5,246 deaths more (14%) than the previous week and 6,082 more (59%) than the five year average for this week in the year. The ONS said that 3,475 (21.2%)of these registered deaths mentioned “novel coronavirus (covid-19).” In London, nearly half (46.6%) of deaths in the week ending 3 April involved covid-19. The West Midlands also had a high proportion of covid-19 deaths, accounting for 22.1% of deaths registered in the region.