As the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced today’s figures for Covid-19 at 202 deaths.
This comes as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today realised figures showing that London has been the hardest-hit area of the country for coronavirus as a result of the capital’s high levels of deprivation.
As of 5pm yesterday, 41,481 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus.
The DHSC also said in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Friday, 193,253 tests were carried out or dispatched, with 1,541 positive results.
Hardest-hit is London
Nine of the top 10 boroughs with the highest death rates were in the capital. Brent was first, followed by Newham and Hackney.
This is according to an updated analysis from the Office for National Statistics that eliminates age as a factor.
It is known that people over 55 are at higher risk of death from Covid-19, with those 85 and older at the greatest risk.
Today’s figures, which relate to deaths between March 1 and May 31 that had been reported by June 6, reveal the role of socio-economic deprivation by using an “age-standardised mortality rate”.
Of the 46,687 deaths in England and Wales between the start of March and end of May that involved coronavirus, 8,188 were in London.
The capital was the region with the highest proportion of Covid deaths – 39.1 per cent of all 20,948 deaths across the city in that period.
Of the 33 London boroughs, 26 had a statistically significantly higher age-standardised mortality rate than the England and Wales average.
Who can be tested for Coronavirus?
You can ask for a test:
- for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
- for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms
Anyone with coronavirus symptoms can apply if they live with an essential worker, a person aged 65 or over, or someone who travels to work. For more information on how to click here.
You can also apply for a test if you have a clinical referral from NHS 111 online.