The total number of deaths from coronavirus is 15% higher than previously reported, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The daily figures released by the government are collated by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and only includes deaths in hospitals.
The ONS figures include all deaths registered in England and Wales up to the week ending April 3.
When the NHS figure of coronavirus deaths was at 4,093 (up to April 3), the actual figure was 6,235 including deaths in the community, when deaths that occurred up to April 3 but were not registered until up to the 11th are included.
The week up to April 3 was the deadliest overall since ONS records began in 2005 with 16,387 total deaths in England and Wales.
Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at the ONS, said: “The latest comparable data for deaths involving Covid-19 with a date of death up to April 3, show there were 6,235 deaths in England and Wales.
“When looking at data for England, this is 15% higher than the NHS numbers as they include all mentions of Covid-19 on the death certificate, including suspected Covid-19, as well as deaths in the community.”
The ONS revealed there have been 406 deaths outside hospital – including 217 in care homes, 136 in private homes and 33 in hospices.
But the real toll of care home deaths is likely to be much higher – because the ONS figures only include deaths registered by April 3.
And the 217 figure is significantly less than the ‘about 1,000’ estimated by Cabinet minister Therese Coffey earlier today.
Source: Mirror
