Covid: Worst week for coronavirus deaths in north Wales
Covid-19 was involved in 41.5% of all deaths in Wales in the latest week - the highest proportion in the pandemic.
By Steve DuffyBBC News It was also by far the worst week for deaths in north Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures. Three quarters of the region's 102 deaths were in Wrexham and Flintshire, Covid-19 hotspots in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Covid deaths in care homes were also at their highest weekly number. The ONS figures show there were 447 deaths involving Covid-19 across Wales for the week ending 22 January. This is 20 fewer than last week, which was the highest recorded during any week of the pandemic. It was still the third highest total registered during the pandemic but the first time the weekly total has fallen since 4 December. The total number of deaths occurring involving Covid-19 in Wales has now risen to 6,473 people. What has happened in different parts of Wales? The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board area in north Wales - with 102 deaths - had by far its worst week for deaths in the pandemic, with 75% in north east Wales. They included 47 deaths in hospitals and 40 in care homes in the health board area. There were 25 deaths involving Wrexham care home residents and 17 in hospital in the area. There were also 20 hospital deaths involving Flintshire residents. The Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board area saw 78 deaths. These included 20 deaths in hospital and 19 of care home residents in Bridgend. There were 18 more hospitals deaths in Rhondda Cynon Taf and five in Merthyr Tydfil. There were also 29 hospital deaths in Cardiff, 25 involving Caerphilly residents and 24 in Swansea. All counties recorded at least one death involving Covid-19. How many deaths in total? The total number of deaths involving Covid in Wales, up to and registered by 22 January, was 6,330 people. When deaths registered over the following few days are counted, there is a total of 6,473. RCT, with 802 deaths, has the largest number of Covid-19 deaths occurring in Wales, followed by Cardiff with 708 up to the latest week. What about 'excess deaths'? So-called excess deaths, which compare all registered deaths with previous years, continue to be above the five-year average. Looking at the number of deaths we would normally expect to see at this point in the year is seen as a useful measure of how the pandemic is progressing. In Wales, the number of deaths from all causes fell again from 1,170 to 1,077, but it was still 265 deaths (32.6%) above the five-year average for the week. When this is added up, the number of deaths from all causes from 3 January 2020 and up to 22 January 2021 was 41,238, which is 4,962 more than the five-year average. Of these, 6,330 deaths (15.3%) mentioned Covid-19 on the death certificate. When deaths occurring up to 22 January but counting registrations in the week or so after, the total is 6,473. What about care homes? There has also been the highest number of weekly deaths in care homes involving Covid-19 in Wales - 129. This brings a total of 1,396 Covid-19 deaths in care homes up to 22 January, making up 22% of all coronavirus deaths in Wales. Older People's Commissioner for Wales Heléna Herklots said she was "deeply concerned" and that the deaths represented "heartbreak and loss" for families and friends. "It is crucial that care homes continue to work with local public health teams to identify any additional measures that could help protect older people and the staff who care for them, and ensure these are put in place immediately," she said. "Today's sad news also underlines why all possible action must be taken to ensure that older people living in care homes - the group at the very top of the priority list - receive their vaccines as soon as possible to protect them from becoming seriously ill with coronavirus." Meanwhile, Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) compiles its own figures, which showed they have been notified of 7,445 deaths among adult care home residents, from all causes, since 1 March. This is 37% more care home deaths than notified in the same time period last year, and 40% higher than for the same period in 2018. CIW has been notified of 1,709 care home resident deaths with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, with 490 of these being residents transferred to hospital. Separate figures also show 112 care homes (10.7%) notified at least one confirmed Covid case in the last week. This is a fall from the 163 homes who did the same in the week before. When looking at crude death rates - based on local populations - Wales has four of the highest 10 across England and Wales. RCT has 332.4 deaths per 100,000 people in total so far in the pandemic. Merthyr is third with 305. Bridgend and Blaenau Gwent are also high. Ceredigion, once second lowest behind the Isles of Scilly, now has the 26th-lowest death rate in the UK with 100.4 per 100,000, with Anglesey the lowest in Wales on 65.7 deaths per 100,000. ONS reports registrations of deaths, where doctors either confirm or suspect Covid-19 and include it on the death certificate. As well as hospitals and care homes, it also includes deaths in hospices and people's own homes. In around 90% of cases, it is estimated that Covid is the underlying cause of death, not just a contributory factor.