Highest number of weekly coronavirus deaths since mid-May in England and Wales, ONS figures show

Total of 1,937 people died from Covid-19 in week up to 6 November

The highest number of weekly coronavirus deaths in England and Wales has been recorded since mid-May, new figures show.

A total of 1,937 people died from Covid-19 complications in the week up to 6 November, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is up from 1,379 deaths in the previous week — a jump of 40 per cent -— and marks the highest weekly figure since 22 May.

The number of Covid-related deaths that occurred in hospitals rose by 442 between 30 October and 6 November, bringing the weekly total to 1,520. 

There were 112 additional Covid deaths in care homes over the same period, the ONS said, giving a total of 309.

Registered deaths involving Covid-19 increased also in every region of England in the week to 6 November.

North-west England recorded 568 Covid deaths, while Yorkshire and the Humber reported 329 — the highest figures for both regions since the week up to 15 May, according to the ONS.

More than 68,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now occurred in the UK since the beginning of the pandemic.

A total of 65,546 deaths have so far been registered where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, according to the latest reports from the UK's statistics agencies.

This includes 59,549 deaths in England and Wales up to 6 November (and registered up to 14 November), which were confirmed by the ONS on Tuesday.

Since these statistics were compiled, a further 2,228 deaths are known to have occurred in England, plus 106 in Scotland, 143 in Wales and 90 in Northern Ireland, according to additional data published on the government's coronavirus dashboard.

Together, these totals mean that so far 68,113 deaths involving Covid-19 have taken place in the UK.

The latest figures come as the government assesses how to end the current lockdown in England, amid scientific warnings that a tougher tier system will be needed until vaccines can drive back the Covid-19 pandemic.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said on Tuesday that ministers want to see a "significant easing" of coronavirus controls when the lockdown in England is lifted on 2 December, but suggested tighter controls may be needed in the top Tier 3.

Susan Hopkins, medical director of Public Health England (PHE) and chief medical adviser to NHS Test and Trace, earlier said ministers would have to look at "strengthening" the tier system. 

Tier 1 restrictions that covered huge parts of England had "very little effect", she said, adding that even Tier 2 only worked in some areas. 

Documents released last week from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), which reports to the Scientific Advisory Committee for Emergencies (Sage), said there was a "clear effect" on infection rates from strict Tier 3 interventions but "much less from Tiers 1 and 2". 

SPI-M believe infections will rise at the same rate as before if the same three-tier system is brought back in on 2 December. 

In a round of broadcast interviews on Tuesday, Mr Jenrick said any extension of the current lockdown would require a vote of Parliament. "It is our hope and expectation that that won't be the case and that people in England will be able to move back into the tiered system," he told Sky News. 

"There will be a review. That work is undergoing on what those tiers look like and how local areas go back in but that will very much depend on the data.”

Additional reporting by PA