Coronavirus was leading cause of death in England and Wales during November

New data shows impact of corornavirus on deaths during the second national lockdown last month

Coronavirus was a leading cause of death in England during the second wave (AP)

Coronavirus was the leading cause of death in England and Wales during November, the Office for National Statistics has said.

During November, when the UK went back into lockdown due to a second wave of the virus, there were 47,910 deaths registered in England, 6,241 more than the five year average. In Wales there were 3,363 deaths, 576 more than the five year average.

The ONS said Covid-19 was the leading cause of death for the first time since May with 18 per cent of all deaths linked to the virus in England and 22 per cent of deaths in Wales.

For deaths registered between January and November, Covid-19 was the second most common cause of death in England and Wales after dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In line with the peak of the second wave of infections, the ONS said the mortality rate linked to Covid-19 increased for the third consecutive month in November reaching 191 deaths per 100,000 people in England and 260 deaths per 100,000 in Wales.

April remains the month with the biggest Covid deaths with London recorded the highest at 1,208 deaths per 100,000 people followed by the northwest with 743 deaths per 100,000.

August and September were the months with the lowest numbers of Covid deaths.

The year to date mortality rate for deaths due to Covid in areas with the highest deprivation was almost three times the mortality rate of least deprived areas with a rate of 252 deaths per 100,000 people compared to 90 deaths per 100,000 people.

In Wales the death rate was twice as high for deprives areas compared to the least deprived communities. 

The figures released by the ONS on Thursday show the impact of the second wave of Covid-19 in the UK and have been released ast the government prepares to relax rules on households mixing for five days during Christmas.

Ministers have been warned relaxing the rules now, as cases have started increasing since the end of the national lockdown, could see the NHS overwhelmed with many hospitals still coping with thousands of Coronavirus patients in hospitals.

Home secretary Priti Patel said people who are planning to travel between tiers over Christmas should change their plans.Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: "We would urge everyone to be conscientious and to make the appropriate plans and the appropriate changes to their plans as well, hence the point about having a smaller and shorter Christmas."

 

She added: "I think the British public are smart enough to make their own decisions and judgments and they don't want to put themselves at risk, they won't put their friends and families at risk.

 

"We're urging people not to travel. Why would you travel? If you're in a low tier area, why would you travel into a high tier area? So people will exercise their judgment."

 

Asked if she is asking people to cancel their plans if they intend to travel long distances, Ms Patel said: "I would urge people to change. I won't be seeing my parents this Christmas, my parents live in a different part of the country and I will not travel to see them.

 

"I want to protect them, I don't want to be spreading the virus. I feel I will take that responsibility and others will make that judgment too."