Britain had highest levels of excess deaths in Europe during pandemic, ONS statistics show

Health Secretary Matt Hancock accused of stoking fears over second wave of coronavirus

Britain suffered the worst excess death rate in the whole of Western Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, figures confirmed today.

Official statistics laid bare what many experts suspected, that the UK’s mortality rate was raised cumulatively higher by the end of May than even Italy and Spain, which were hit earlier.

They were issued on a day that the Health Secretary warned of a second deadly wave of Covid-19 “rolling across Europe” and possibly heading for Britain in two to three weeks. Matt Hancock, however, denied over-reacting to signs of more localised spikes in the UK and a rising average of daily cases.

In a major change to the official rules, the UK’s chief medical officers announced that the period that victims must go into self-isolation is being increased from seven to 10 days. Scientists now believe people can be infectious for longer than they thought, although this is something the World Health Organisation has maintained all along. The league table for excess death rates is regarded as the benchmark for revealing which countries were most — and least — successful at combating the disease in its shocking first wave earlier this year.

By the end of May, England was top of the table with a death rate some 7.55 per cent higher than usual, said the Office for National Statistics. It overtook Spain, which had suffered a higher peak earlier in the crisis, and by May 29 had an excess death rate of 6.65. Scotland came third with 5.11, followed by Belgium at 3.89, Wales, at 2.78, Sweden at 2.26, the Netherlands, at 2.21, and Northern Ireland at 2.03, with France at just 0.16.

An ONS spokesman confirmed that the four nations and regions of the UK together had a combined rate that was higher than any other country.

Interactive map showing relative age-standardised mortality rates by week and NUTS3 region of Europe

Mr Hancock issued the most stark warning yet from a minister that a second wave could reach Britain next month. “I am worried about a second wave,” he told Sky.

“I think you can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe and we’ve got to do everything we can to prevent it from reaching these shores and to tackle it.”

Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures

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Fresh restrictions have been put in place in Oldham, Greater Manchester, and there have been localised outbreaks in Stone, Staffordshire, and Wrexham, North Wales.

Labour MP Chris Bryant accused Mr Hancock of exaggerating the threat of a second wave from Europe to distract from the bleak data on excess deaths.

“All this loose talk from the Government is an attempt to distract from their own shocking performance in the UK, as confirmed by today’s data from the Office for National Statistics.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned of the dangers of a second wave
PA

It was confirmed that those who test positive for coronavirus or display symptoms such as a persistent cough, a high temperature or loss of sense of smell, must now self-isolate for 10 days.

In a joint statement the chief medical officers said it was necessary because of the risk individuals may still be able to spread Covid-19, calling it a “low but real possibility of infectiousness” for up to 10 days.

Scientists at Cambridge University have said it is “very likely” that most regions in England — including the South-East — are close to the point at which the virus begins to spread exponentially, with an R rate above one.

In their joint statement the scientists, including Professor Chris Whitty, said: “Evidence, although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with Covid-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low but real possibility of infectiousness between seven and nine days after illness onset.” Meanwhile, health bosses are tracking the increase in cases in other European countries. Mr Hancock said he was “thankful” that the Government had imposed quarantine requirements on Spain at the weekend in the light of further rises in cases there.

Local lockdown in Leicester during Coronavirus pandemic

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He warned travellers that new countries could shortly be added to the quarantine list in the coming days after passengers arriving in the UK from Spain were ordered to isolate for two weeks.

He said ministers were looking at ways to reduce the 14-day period, possibly by the use of multiple tests, amid pressure from the tourism industry. But he said ministers were constantly considering whether to add countries to the quarantine list.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said of the latest ONS statistics on excess deaths: “We can no longer hide from the fact that the Government has not handled this crisis well and needs to urgently learn lessons from its mistakes.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Today’s report from ONS shows us where the highest peaks were across Europe when factors like age and gender are taken into account. However, this is a novel virus and we are still working to fully understand all the factors driving this pandemic.

“At all stages we have been guided by the latest scientific advice, and the action we have taken has allowed us to protect the vulnerable and ensure the NHS was not overwhelmed, even at the virus’ peak.”

The economic crisis unleashed by Covid-19 was underlined as the German powerhouse recorded a fall of 10.1 per cent during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said 11,000 were made redundant in the first half of the year.

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