More than 150,000 people have died in the United Kingdom within 28 days of a positive COVID-19 test since the pandemic began.
A further 313 deaths were reported in the government’s daily figures yesterday, taking the total to 150,057.
The UK is the seventh country to pass 150,000 reported deaths after the US, Brazil, India, Russia, Mexico and Peru.
A government spokesman said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy and our sympathies are with everyone who has lost loved ones.”
The number of deaths within 28 days of a positive test has also begun to rise, with the total of 1,271 in the past seven days up 38.3% on the previous week.
The impact of vaccinations means COVID-19 hospital admissions and deaths are not rising as quickly as during previous waves.
However, hospitals remain under pressure due to rising admissions and COVID-19-related staff absences.
The Office for National Statistics records the number of deaths where COVID-19 is mentioned as a cause on the death certificate, even if the person had not been tested for the virus, with a total of 173,248 deaths recorded up to 24 December.
In January 2021, the UK was the first European nation and fifth country to pass 100,000 reported COVID-19 deaths. Six weeks later the UK had seen another 25,000 deaths.
But the combined effect of vaccine rollout and lockdown slowed the growth of the death toll throughout the rest of the year.
It’s almost a year since the UK recorded 100,000 deaths. Most of those came in two waves – a sharp sudden surge in the spring followed by a slow, sustained rise in the autumn and winter of 2020 into 2021, largely before vaccines were available.
On 8 December 2020, 90-year-old Margaret Keenan made history by being the first person to receive a COVID-19 jab as part of the UK’s national rollout.
Today, the total number of deaths in the UK stands at more than 150,000. It is a sobering reminder of why societies cannot ignore COVID-19 It hasn’t gone away.
A government spokesman said: “We are thankful for the collective national effort and the hard work of frontline health and social care staff and volunteers for administering vaccines to tens of millions of people and keeping people safe. Their tireless efforts have saved thousands of lives.”
However, he added “the pandemic is not over” and urged people to “play their part” by getting vaccinated.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he hopes England can “ride out” the current wave of infections without further restrictions, although he acknowledged parts of the NHS would feel “temporarily overwhelmed”.
England is currently under Plan B restrictions, which includes mandatory face masks in most public indoor spaces, COVID-19 passes for entry to some large venues and advice to work from home where possible.
