Coronavirus deaths increase for second consecutive week in England and Wales

Deaths involving COVID-19 have increased for the second consecutive week in England and Wales.

There were 139 fatalities which mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate - up from 99 the previous week, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number of excess deaths in England and Wales remains slightly higher than the national average, with 9,523 deaths registered in the week ending 18 September.

This is 2.8% higher than the five-year average.

However, overall deaths registered from all causes had decreased from the previous week, dropping from 9,811 to 9,523.

In six of the nine English regions, the number of coronavirus-related deaths had increased - with the North West reporting the biggest rise.

The other regions reporting increases were:

• West Midlands

• London

• Yorkshire and the Humber

• North East

• East Midlands

Although the number of coronavirus deaths remains low compared with the peak of the pandemic, there has been a rise in the number of hospital and care home deaths.

More than half of coronavirus-related deaths (56.8%) were people aged 80 and over.

The ONS reports 52,717 deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales up to 18 September.

Figures published last week by the National Records for Scotland of deaths registered up to 20 September, and by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency of deaths registered up to 23 September, take the total to 57,860 deaths.

There have now been one million coronavirus-related deaths across the world since the pandemic began.