Today’s figures from the ONS (see 9.48am) mean the number of deaths directly involving coronavirus in the UK has now passed 54,000.
As PA Media reports, the ONS new figures show that 48,866 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in England and Wales up to June 12 (and had been registered by June 20).
Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland showed that 4,070 deaths involving Covid-19 had been registered in Scotland up to June 14.
The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, also published last week, showed 802 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred in Northern Ireland up to June 12 (and had been registered up to June 17).
Together these figures mean that so far 53,738 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.
As PA Media reports, between June 13 and June 21, a further 317 hospital patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 died in England, according to NHS England; while a further 29 people in hospital and care homes who had tested positive for Covid-19 died in Wales, according to Public Health Wales.
And in Northern Ireland, a further five people who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between June 13 and June 21, according to the Northern Ireland Department of Health.
These add up to a further 351 deaths that have occurred since June 13, and together with the total figure of 53,738 registered deaths, means the overall Covid-19 death toll for the UK is now just over 54,000, at 54,089.
The headline UK death figures published by the Department of Health and Social Care every afternoon (which yesterday recorded a cumulative total of 42,647 deaths) only include deaths where the person tested positive for coronavirus. The ONS figures are more comprehensive because they include all deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate.
The total number of excess deaths in the UK linked to coronavirus is more than 64,000. This figure includes not just deaths directly attributed to coronavirus, but other deaths occurring as a consequence of the pandemic (for example, because someone who might normally have gone to A&E had it not been for the coronavirus died at home).