COVID-19 death rate in England double that of the North: ONS

The statisticians who compiled the report remarked on 'significant differences' in death rates in Ireland and Britain.

"England had the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths, with 363.8 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by Scotland, with 319.5 deaths per 100,000 population, and Wales, with 289.3 deaths per 100,000 population; the lowest rate was in Northern Ireland, with 185.9 deaths per 100,000 population," according to the report which refers to the period between March 1 and April 20, 2020.

It adds: "There was a significant difference between each country within the UK when looking at both all deaths and those involving COVID-19. Scotland continues to have the highest overall mortality rate but only the second-highest rate of deaths involving COVID-19. England had the highest rate (363.8 per 100,000 population) and Northern Ireland had the lowest (185.9 per 100,000 population)."

The report also shows the number of coronavirus deaths in percentage terms.

"England had the highest percentage of deaths involving COVID-19 over the period with 26.8% (33,235 deaths) of all deaths in England involving COVID-19. This was followed by Wales with 22.3% of deaths, Scotland with 21.0% of deaths and Northern Ireland with 16.5% of deaths," it states.

Care homes

The ONS found that there was a higher percentage of COVID-19 deaths in care homes in the north than in Britain.

"Looking at the constituent countries of the UK, England had the highest percentage of deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in hospitals (68.6%), followed by Wales with 66.9%. Northern Ireland had the highest percentage of COVID-19 deaths in care homes (43.7%), followed by Scotland with 42.8%," the authors report.

Excess deaths

The north also had the lowest percentage of excess deaths over the period.

"In the UK, for deaths occurring in March and April 2020, there were 43.0% more deaths (44,449 deaths) than the five-year average. England had the most deaths above the five-year average with 39,020 deaths, 45.8% above the five-year average. The lowest number of deaths above the five-year average was in Northern Ireland, with 413 deaths; this is 15.7% above the five-year average," the report says.

This was reflected in the figures for deaths in care homes.

"Looking at deaths that have occurred in care homes over the period, England had the highest percentage of deaths above average, with 102.0% more deaths than the five-year average.

"Of these, 44.4% involved the coronavirus (COVID-19). Wales had the second-highest percentage, with 78.9% more deaths than average, 56.6% of which involved COVID-19.

"This was followed by Scotland, with 76.0% deaths above average, of which 69.3% involved COVID-19; this is the highest proportion of the four countries. Northern Ireland had the lowest percentage of deaths above average, with 66.7%; of these, 63.8% involved COVID-19," state the ONS.