UK announces 19 more coronavirus deaths in preliminary statistics taking total death toll to 44,217
- 18 more deaths were confirmed in NHS hospitals in England from June 19 – July 4
- Announcement takes the total official deaths in Britain to 44,217
- Detailed statistics suggest the true number of people who died is around 55,000
Another 19 people have died of Covid-19 in the UK today, according to official statistics.
A preliminary count of the deaths, which includes only England and Wales, recorded 19 more fatalities between June 19 and July 4.
The Department of Health is expected to announce a full count including English care home deaths later today.
Scotland’s announcement has been delayed by ‘a technical issue’ and Northern Ireland’s government has stopped issuing weekend updates.
The total number of people to have died in the UK is now 44,217, according to the Department of Health.
Other statistical organisations put it at least 10,000 deaths higher when people who never got tested but had Covid-19 on their death certificate are taken into account.
Today’s statistics come as England yesterday experienced the biggest loosening in social distancing rules since lockdown began in March, with pubs reopening and people allowed to spend time inside and sleep over in the homes of other people.
The Office for National Statistics, which collects the most accurate data by using people’s death certificates, says 49,610 people had died of Covid-19 by June 19.
This includes people who were tested and also those not officially diagnosed by a doctor. The Department of Health only counts people tested by the Government.
Matching data from Scotland shows 4,119 people had been killed north of the border by coronavirus up to June 21, while Northern Ireland recorded 812 up to June 19.
The total death toll in the UK, therefore, was at least 54,541 by mid-June, considerably higher than the 42,632 recorded by the Department of Health by June 21 (a 28 per cent increase).