COVID-19: Weekly deaths in England and Wales highest since May
The figure made up a fifth of the overall deaths in the week up to 13 November
Tuesday 24 November 2020 13:50, UK
There were 2,466 coronavirus deaths in the week up to 13 November in England and Wales.
Statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which counts death certificates where COVID-19 is mentioned, show this was up by 529 (27%) on the previous seven days when the figure stood at 1,937 deaths.
It's the highest weekly figure since the week ending 22 May.
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When all causes of death are taken into account, 12,254 people died in week 46 (the week to 13 November) in England and Wales - 1,904 (18.4%) more than the five-year average.
It makes it the worst week 46 for deaths since 1993, without adjusting for population growth.
The coronavirus deaths, which rose for the tenth consecutive week, made up a fifth of the overall deaths in England and Wales that week.
Northwest England had the largest number, recording 615 in seven days - the highest number for the region since the week ending 15 May, according to the ONS.
In Yorkshire and the Humber there were 450 deaths; again the highest for the region since the week ending 15 May.
Some 284 deaths were registered in the West Midlands - the highest since the week to 22 May - while 245 were registered in the East Midlands: the most since the week to 15 May.
In Wales, the number of deaths involving COVID-19 increased from 166 deaths in the week up to 6 November to 190 deaths in the week up to 13 November.
All English regions, and Wales, saw a higher number of deaths in the week to 13 November than the five-year average.
Although, the ONS said data showed weekly registered deaths not involving coronavirus were below the five-year average for the third consecutive week.
The ONS said 62,162 deaths from COVID-19 have now occurred in England and Wales as of 13 November.
It comes as figures showed coronavirus case rates have dropped in most areas of England, with falls recorded in 249 of 315 areas.
However, London and the South East are bucking the trend with Swale in Kent coming just behind Hull as the nation's second COVID hotspot.
The rate in the seaside borough is 565 cases per 100,000 people (848 cases in total), up from a rate of 531 the week before.
The figures are for the seven days to 19 November and based on tests in labs and in the wider community, and published by Public Health England.
Meanwhile, Oxford University and AstraZeneca have announced their coronavirus vaccine has an efficiency of up to 90%.
It is hoped doses could start to be administered as early as next month.