A year on from the UK’s first known death involving coronavirus, data shows that more than 900 people died with Covid-19 on average each day in the first half of January.
Here are some of the key figures showing the rise in deaths over the past 12 months, using data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
All figures are based on the date deaths took place, not when they were reported.
Key dates:
– January 30 2020: The earliest known death involving Covid-19 in the UK. The victim is 84-year-old Peter Attwood, from Chatham in Kent. His death is not formally confirmed as having involved Covid-19 until the end of August.
– March 15: The cumulative UK death toll, based on mentions of Covid-19 on death certificates, passes 100.
– March 23: The cumulative death toll passes 1,000. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces a UK-wide lockdown.
– April 17: Death toll passes 25,000
– May 23: Death toll passes 50,000
– November 26: Death toll passes 75,000
– January 7 2021: Death toll passes 100,000
– It took six months for the death toll to rise from 50,000 to 75,000 deaths, but just six weeks to go from 75,000 to 100,000
Using a three-month period as a comparison for the first wave and second wave:
– March 1 to June 1 2020: 52,519 deaths
– October 15 2020 to January 15 2021: 48,023 deaths (this number will increase as more deaths are registered)
– From March 1 to June 1 there were 23 days when the daily death toll was above 1,000, and 53 days when the daily death toll was above 400.
– From October 15 to January 15 there have been four days when toll was above 1,000, and 70 days when the daily death toll was above 400.
– The “deadliest day” of the whole pandemic so far is April 8 2020, when 1,457 deaths occurred
– The “deadliest day” of the second wave so far is January 11 2021, when 1,097 deaths occurred
January 2021 so far:
– A total of 13,876 deaths have so far been registered as occurring between January 1 to January 15 2021. This equates to an average of 925 daily deaths.
– The last time the daily average was above 900 for 15 consecutive days was the 15 days to May 3 (an average of 915).
