Monday, November 25, 2024
UK still faces the grim challenge of restraining Covid related deaths
The number of people to have died with coronavirus in the UK has exceeded 100,000.
There have been nearly 104,000 deaths since the pandemic began, data from the UK's national statisticians show.
The figures, which go up to 15 January, are based on death certificates. The government's daily figures, which rely on positive tests, are slightly lower.
It follows a surge of cases last month, leaving the UK with one of the highest coronavirus death rates globally.
The Office for National Statistics and its counterparts in Scotland and Northern Ireland registered 7,776 deaths with coronavirus on the death certificate in the most recent week.
That total is the third-highest of the epidemic.
Last April, there were two weeks with more than 9,000 coronavirus deaths registered across the UK - but there have been no other weeks with more than 7,000 deaths registered.
About nine in 10 death certificates citing coronavirus registered Covid as the cause of death.
Most of the deaths have been in older age groups - nearly three-quarters of those who have died with the virus were over 75. One in three deaths were care home residents.
Chris Hopson, of NHS Providers, which represents health service managers, described the milestone as a "tragedy".
"Behind each death will be a story of sorrow and grief," he said.
"We pay tribute, once again, to NHS and care staff who have done everything they can throughout the long months of this pandemic to avoid each one of these deaths and reduce patient harm.
"We won't know the true impact of Covid-19 for a long time to come because of its long-term effects.
"But, as well as the high death rate, it's particularly concerning that this virus has widened health inequalities and affected black, Asian and minority-ethnic communities disproportionately."
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