Nuffield Trust response to weekly ONS registered deaths statistics

Sarah Scobie responds to the weekly mortality figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Press release

Published: 16/02/2021

Responding to the weekly mortality stats from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the week ending 5 February 2021, Nuffield Trust Deputy Director of Research Sarah Scobie said:

“It is a relief that we are beginning to see the number of Covid deaths recorded week by week during this deadly second wave fall across all regions. Because of daily reporting, we know that cases and deaths have been falling now week on week, and we are now passing the peak in Covid death registrations too.

“However, for the week ending 5th February, which will cover people who lost their lives in late January or very early February, the level of Covid deaths remain very high. The total number of deaths recorded across England and Wales are nearly 5,000 higher than the average for this time of year, with 7,320 (43%) of all deaths attributed to Covid. The vaccination campaign should help bring down deaths rapidly, but it will take a while for these reported figures to catch up.”

Notes to editors

Comments