Coronavirus: Registered Covid deaths rise by a third in one week, new figures show

Total of 438 deaths mentioning ‘novel coronavirus’ reported in England and Wales in week ending 9 October

The number of people to die from Covid-19 has risen by a third in the space of seven days, new figures show.

A total of 438 deaths mentioning "novel coronavirus" were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 9 October, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is a rise of 36 per cent (117 deaths) from the previous week – which saw the highest number of deaths involving Covid-19 since early July.

Registered coronavirus deaths have been roughly doubling every fortnight since the week ending 4 September, the ONS figures show, as the UK’s second wave continues to intensify.

The northwest recorded the largest number of registered coronavirus deaths (153) registered over the latest seven-day period, along with the largest weekly increase.

It is the highest number for the region since the week ending 12 June, according to the ONS.

In the northeast of England, 60 Covid-19 deaths were registered in the week to 9 October, which again is the highest for the region since the week to 12 June.

Much of the north has been hit hard by the second wave of the pandemic, with hospitalisations continuing to soar amid warnings that ICU units will soon be overwhelmed if the rate of transmission for the region is not halted.

The Independent revealed last week that Greater Manchester is on course to have almost all its intensive care beds taken up with coronavirus patients within weeks.

Downing Street has since confirmed that the “sharply rising” rate of infections in the city meant the number of Covid patients in ICU beds had already reached 40 per cent of the peak of the first wave in the spring.

In London, the southeast, the southwest and the east, the overall number of deaths was below the average over five years for this period.

Of the 438 deaths, the majority occurred in hospitals (342), with 63 taking place in care homes, 28 at home, three in hospices and two elsewhere.

So far this year, 34,174 deaths involving coronavirus have occurred in hospitals, 15,712 in care homes, 2,561 in private homes, 761 in hospices, 227 in other communal establishments and 205 elsewhere.

Tuesday's figures show that just over 59,000 deaths involving Covid-19 have now been registered in the UK.

Some 53,863 deaths involving Covid-19 have occurred in England and Wales up to 9 October, and were registered by 17 October.

Additional reporting by PA