Hospital deaths falling at fastest rate yet

The deaths in English hospitals of a further 22 people who tested positive for coronavirus have been reported today (9 July). The cumulative total is now 28,951.

The figures were collated between 4pm on 7 July and 4pm on 8 July, but due to the need to inform relatives and authenticate reports, many of the deaths occurred earlier than this period. It is also very likely that some deaths which did occur during these 24 hours — and before — have not yet been recorded, normally for the same reasons.

The figures do not include those who have died from the virus outside of hospital, nor those where covid-19 has not been specifically recorded as a cause.

Due to late reporting, hospital deaths data is only considered robust until 3 July.

The national rolling weekly total stood at 183 on 3 July, 97 per cent lower than the peak of 5488 recorded on 11 April.

The average daily reported deaths went below 40 on 3 July and the daily rate of decline in the weekly total stood at 11.7 per cent on 6 July, though this fell back to 9.7 per cent by 8 July.

Coronavirus deaths peaked between 9 and 13 April in all seven NHS England regions when London was reporting a daily average of over 200 deaths. The region is now reporting two deaths.

The North West and Midlands are the only two regions with more than five average daily deaths and the South West region, which has had the fewest deaths of the seven NHS England regions, has reported only one hospital death between 27 June and 3 July.