Public Health England found there had been 9,349 “excess deaths” – the number above the average from previous years – in the capital between March 20 and the end of July. Of these, 8,502 mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate – meaning 847 people more than normal died from other causes, probably as a result of failing to seek medical care, or where coronavirus was not diagnosed or reported.
Today’s report revealed that a total of 26,902 deaths were registered in London between the start of the pandemic and the end of last month. Of these, 17,553 deaths were expected – meaning 9,349 were classed as “excess”.
Barnet and Croydon, the two biggest boroughs, recorded most excess deaths, at 505 and 503 respectively.
But the study found that the more ethnically diverse boroughs of Harrow, Brent and Newham – which is trialling the new NHS covid tracker app – were disproportionately worse hit.
In Harrow, there were 427 excess deaths, including 397 involving Covid – 1.79 times more deaths overall than expected.
In Brent, there were 489 deaths, of which 486 involved Covid – 1.78 times more deaths than normal. In Newham, the 356 deaths, of which 308 involved Covid, was 1.74 times more deaths than normal.
Across London, there were 2.5 times more deaths than expected among black men – 1,749 compared with the average of 691.
The worst week was April 11-17, when there were 2,259 excess deaths – 3.35 times higher the expected number of deaths.
