Lebanese Ministry of Information
The mortality rate for COVID-19 is also “significantly higher” than for flu and pneumonia this year.
Coronavirus caused three times more deaths than pneumonia and flu combined in the first eight months of this year, according to new figures.
There were 48,168 deaths due to COVID-19, 13,619 due to pneumonia and 394 deaths due to influenza in England and Wales between January and August, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Out of all deaths during this period, COVID-19 accounted for 12.4%, whereas 0.1% were due to flu and 3.5% caused by pneumonia.
However, deaths caused by flu and pneumonia have been below the five-year average for every month between January and August this year
“Since 1959, which is when ONS monthly death records began, the number of deaths due to influenza and pneumonia in the first eight months of every year have been lower than the number of COVID-19 deaths seen, so far, in 2020,” said Sarah Caul, head of mortality analysis at the ONS.
The mortality rate for COVID-19 is also “significantly higher” than flu and pneumonia rates for both this year and the five-year average.
At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, many had dismissed the novel coronavirus as no more dangerous than flu.
But the ONS figures are in stark contrast to these claims.
The data focuses on cases where people died due to these conditions, rather than deaths where the conditions were either the underlying cause or mentioned as a contributing factor.
If all deaths where COVID-19 was an underlying cause or contributing factor are included, some 52,327 deaths have involved the virus.
Although flu and pneumonia were mentioned on more death certificates, COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death in more cases.
As in most years, the highest number of deaths from flu and pneumonia were in January.
However, that month also saw the largest difference from the five-year average of any month, with 1,151 fewer deaths than average.
Dr Nick Scriven, of the Society for Acute Medicine, said the NHS is at a “tipping point” ahead of the winter.
“As coronavirus cases increase in number across the NHS and predominantly in the northern half of the country, these latest figures from the ONS show us just how many people have sadly died due to this infection compared to those who died of other common respiratory infections,” he said.
“Although it must be noted that this data is through spring and summer when the latter are usually less prevalent in the community.”
He warned of an “imminent crisis” this winter “in terms of the capacity of the NHS to deliver care to all those thousands with COVID but also all those many thousands with other potentially lethal acute and chronic health problems”.
The new figures come as Boris Johnson is expected to impose new restrictions on pubs in parts of northern England, which could include closing them altogether in Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is finalising a new package of coronavirus support for the hospitality industry.
Sky News
