Weekly Coronavirus deaths hit their highest total since May with a 9% increase over the past seven days

The weekly number of coronavirus deaths in England and Wales reached its highest total since May, with most deaths aged 75 and over.

A total of 2,697 deaths recorded in the week ending November 20 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

It went from 2,466 deaths in the week to November 13 – a 9% increase – and is the highest number of deaths involving the virus since the week ended May 15.

Deaths increased for the 11th consecutive week and it was only the second time in six months the weekly toll was over 2,000.

Just over a fifth (21.5%) of all recorded deaths in England and Wales in the week to November 20 mentioned Covid-19 on their death certificates.

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In the week through November 20, the number of all-cause deaths in England and Wales was 20.8% above the five-year average (2,155 more deaths).

Deaths that did not involve Covid-19 remained below the five-year average.

In England, the North West continued to have the highest number of deaths from Covid-19, with 629 in the week through November 20, the highest number for the region since the week ending May 1, according to the ONS.

The highest rate of coronavirus deaths was observed in Yorkshire and Humber – 481 were recorded in the week through November 20: again, the highest for the region from the week to May 1.

About 306 deaths from Covid-19 were recorded in the West Midlands, while 289 were recorded in the East Midlands – in both cases, the highest from the week to May 15.

Deaths increased from week to week in all regions of England, with the exception of eastern England.

Three-quarters of those who died of coronavirus were 75 years old and older, the ONS said.

The greatest increase was observed in those over 90 (79 more deaths).

Compared to the previous week, deaths increased in hospitals (+146), nursing homes (+42) and private homes (+27).

The number of deaths in hospitals, nursing homes and private homes was above the five-year average, but deaths in other locations were below the five-year average, the ONS said.

Since the beginning of the year, 65.9% of deaths (42,110) occurred in hospitals, while the rest occurred in nursing homes (17,319), private homes (3,072), hospices (870), other municipal institutions (251) ) and elsewhere (230).

A separate study on Monday suggested coronavirus infections fell by 30% in England during the second national lockdown.

Imperial College London said its React study found infections in the Northeast and Northwest dropped by more than half.

Cases also decreased in Yorkshire and the Humbers, but prevalence remained high in the East Midlands and West Midlands, the university added.

The study suggested that 1 in 100 people in England had Covid-19 between November 13 and 24, down significantly from an estimate of 1 in 80 reported on November 2.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said Tuesday there were no plans for a “vaccine passport” for access to places like pubs and restaurants once coronavirus shots are introduced.

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Asked if there would be a vaccination passport, Gove told Sky News: “No, it wasn’t planned.

“I certainly have no intention of introducing any vaccine passport and I don’t know anyone else in the government …”

He added: “I think the most important thing to do is to make sure you vaccinate as many people as possible.”

His comments came the day after Health Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is responsible for launching the Covid-19 vaccines, suggested that a so-called “immunity passport” was being examined to identify people who they had the shot.

Mr. Zahawi said hospitality and entertainment venues may insist on seeing such a “passport” from customers.

The health minister said the government was “looking into the technology” so that people could prove they have a Covid-19 vaccine.

He said: “I think you will probably find that restaurants, bars, cinemas and other places, sports facilities, will also use that system, as they did with the app (test and trace).”

Gove also said he was confident that another blockade could be avoided, but that the government cannot rule it out.