An interactive map which highlights coronavirus deaths by postcode in England and Wales shows that London was still the worst-hit region in the UK despite the epidemic migrating North in recent weeks.
The map, which uses Office for National Statistics data, revealed there have been 138 Covid-19 deaths per 100,000 people in the capital – almost double the national average of 81 fatalities.
Nine of the 10 local areas with the highest virus death rates in the UK are London boroughs, with Brent suffering 210.9 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Newham (197) and Hackney (183).
Middlesbrough (169 deaths per 100,000), Hertsmere in Hertfordshire (162) and Salford, Manchester (160) have suffered the three highest death rates outside of London as the epidemic shifts north.
Many experts predict the death rate gap between London and the rest of England to shorten in the coming months because the virus’ reproduction rate has been squashed in the capital but continues to grow elsewhere.
The R-rate – the average number of people each patient infects – is estimated to be between 0.7 and 0.9 across the UK, and just 0.4 in London. But in the North West and South West of England it is thought to be above 1, the point at which the disease could spiral back out of control.
Separate data from the ONS revealed care home deaths nearly doubled the five-year average in March and April, at the height of the outbreak in the UK.
A total 44,268 care homes residents fell victim to coronavirus during that two-month period, compared to the average 22,587 who normally die from other causes.
Separate data from the ONS revealed care home deaths nearly doubled the five-year average in March and April, at the height of the outbreak in the UK
The ONS report showed that, after surging in March and April, deaths rates halved in all but two regions of England and Wales in May thanks to the effect of the nationwide lockdown.
The greatest decrease was recorded in London, where the mortality rate fell by 83.3 per cent in yet another sign the epidemic has been flattened in the capital.
London had previously had the highest deaths in both March and April, with rates of 27.8 deaths per 100,000 and 94.1 deaths per 100,000, respectively. But this shrunk to just 15.7 per 100,000 in May.
However, in the North East and Yorkshire, the death rate hovered at 33 per 100,000 last month, double the rate seen in the capital.
The ONS report analysed 46,687 Covid-19 deaths that were recorded between March 1 and May 31, which means it is two weeks out of date and thousands of fatalities have not been included.
It also showed that the poorest in society are being killed by Covid-19 at twice the rate of people who live in the richest areas of the country.
The most deprived areas in England have recorded an average 128 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 59 fatalities in the wealthiest areas.
In Wales, the most impoverished regions recorded 110 deaths per 100,000 people, nearly twice as high in the richest neighbourhoods, where the rate is 58 per 100,000.
The ONS report also showed that the poorest in society are being killed by Covid-19 at twice the rate of people who live in the richest areas of the country
London was still the worst-hit region in the UK despite the epidemic migrating North in recent weeks, but the death rate gap is shortening
Sarah Caul, head of mortality analysis at the Office for National Statistics, said: ‘Although London had some of the highest COVID-19 mortality rates in the country during March and April, it is now experiencing lower mortality rates compared with most areas.
‘During May, the region with the highest age-adjusted Covid-19 mortality rate was the North East, where the rate was double that of London.
The South West region continued to have the lowest mortality rate overall and during each of the last three months.
‘Meanwhile, people living in more deprived areas have continued to experience Covid-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but COVID-19 appears to be increasing this effect.’
Overall, there were 46,687 deaths occurring in England and Wales between 1 March and 31 May 2020 and registered by 6 June 2020 that involved the coronavirus. This represented a quarter (26 per cent) of all deaths occurring over this period.
However, there have been at least 3,900 deaths in Scotland, according to the National Records of Scotland – the country’s official statistical body – meaning Britain’s true Covid death toll is already higher than 50,000.