Skip to main content
The Actuary: The magazine of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries - return to the homepage Logo of The Actuary website
  • Search
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on Facebook
  • Visit The Actuary Magazine on LinkedIn
  • Visit @TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Visit the website of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Logo of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries

Main navigation

  • News
  • Features
    • General Features
    • Interviews
    • Students
    • Opinion
  • Topics
  • Knowledge
    • Business Skills
    • Careers
    • Events
    • Predictions by The Actuary
    • Whitepapers
    • Webinars
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
  • IFoA
    • CEO Comment
    • IFoA News
    • People & Social News
    • President Comment
  • Archive
Quick links:
  • Home
  • News

COVID-19: UK's second wave results in over 5,000 'excess' deaths

Open-access content Wednesday 2nd December 2020
COVID-19: UK's second wave results in over 5,000 'excess' deaths

Mortality rates in the UK have been above 2019 levels for the sixth successive week, with more than 5,000 'excess' deaths recorded during the country's second wave of coronavirus infections.

That is according to analysis by the Continuous Mortality Investigation (CMI), which estimates that there were around 66,500 more deaths between the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and 20 November 2020 than during the same period last year.

This is up from the 64,900 estimate reported by the CMI last week, with mortality in England and Wales 13% higher between 14 November and 20 November (week 47) than during the corresponding week for 2019.

The increase was also 13% in week 46, 9% in week 45, 6% in both 44 and 43, and 2% in week 42.

Based on data from the Office for National Statistics, the CMI's latest update also shows that the number of deaths with COVID-19 mentioned on the death certificate has increased from under 100 in week 37, to 2,697 in week 47.

“A sixth consecutive week of excess deaths has taken the total for the second wave to over 5,000,” said Cobus Daneel, chair of the CMI Mortality Projections Committee. “This is much less than in the corresponding period of the first wave.”

Owned by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, the CMI has been publishing analysis of the UK's mortality rate during the coronavirus crisis through its mortality monitor.

It estimates that the cumulative mortality improvement in England and Wales for 2020 was -11.5% on 20 November, compared to +0.1% on 20 March.

The latest figures for excess deaths contrast sharply with the figures for weeks 38, 39, 40 and 41, when mortality was slightly lower than expected.

The CMI also revealed last month that the number of deaths in England and Wales between July and September of 2020 was lower than in any other quarter on record.

It intends to publish its next mortality monitor for week 48 on 8 December 2020.

 

Image credit: iStock

Author: Chris Seekings 

Also filed in:
News
Topics:
Health care

You might also like...

Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linked in
  • Mail
  • Print

Latest Jobs

Senior Underwriting Risk Manager

London (Central)
£85K-£95K + Benefits
Reference
124386

Reserving Manager (Contract)

London (Central)
£1200 - £1400 per day
Reference
124385

Life Actuary - Contract - IFRS 17 Financial Impact

England, London / England, Bristol / North Yorkshire, England
£900 - £1150 per day
Reference
124384
See all jobs »
 
 

Today's top reads

 
 

Sign up to our newsletter

News, jobs and updates

Sign up

Subscribe to The Actuary

Receive the print edition straight to your door

Subscribe
Spread-iPad-slantB-june.png

Topics

  • Data Science
  • Investment
  • Risk & ERM
  • Pensions
  • Environment
  • Soft skills
  • General Insurance
  • Regulation Standards
  • Health care
  • Technology
  • Reinsurance
  • Global
  • Life insurance
​
FOLLOW US
The Actuary on LinkedIn
@TheActuaryMag on Twitter
Facebook: The Actuary Magazine
CONTACT US
The Actuary
Tel: (+44) 020 7880 6200
​

IFoA

About IFoA
Become an actuary
IFoA Events
About membership

Information

Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
Think Green

Get in touch

Contact us
Advertise with us
Subscribe to The Actuary Magazine
Contribute

The Actuary Jobs

Actuarial job search
Pensions jobs
General insurance jobs
Solvency II jobs

© 2022 The Actuary. The Actuary is published on behalf of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries by Redactive Publishing Limited, 71-75 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9JQ. Tel: 020 7880 6200