COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales 35% higher than government figure: ONS

The death toll involving COVID-19 in England and Wales was 35% higher than the daily figures for deaths in hospitals released by the government as of April 17, according to official data that includes deaths in the community.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 21,284 who had died up to April 17 were infected with COVID-19, compared with 13,917 people who died in hospitals, according to the government figure for the same period.

The ONS data also showed that 2,000 coronavirus care home deaths happened in the week ending April 17. As of then, care home deaths accounted for a third of all coronavirus deaths registered in England and Wales, raising an alarm for authorities despite hospital deaths trending downward since April 8.