The number of deaths registered in England and Wales in the week ending May 29 (week 22) was 9,824. This was 2,464 fewer than in week 21 but 20.2 per cent higher than the five-year average.

Of the deaths registered in week 22, 1,822 mentioned Covid-19, the lowest number in the last eight weeks. The virus accounted for 18.5 per cent of all deaths, and is 767 is fewer than in week 21, according to figures from the Office of National Statistics.

The proportion of deaths occurring in care homes in England and Wales decreased to 25.5 per cent in week 22, while deaths involving Covid-19 as a percentage of all deaths in care homes decreased to 28.2 per cent. The number of deaths in care homes was 819 higher than the five-year average.

The percentage of deaths involving coronavirus continued to decrease or remain similar across all English regions; the North West had the highest number of Covid-19 deaths – 282 - in week 22.

In Wales, there were 105 deaths registered in week 22 involving Covid-19, accounting for 17.9 per cent of all deaths registered in Wales. Of these 64 per cent occurred in hospital with the remainder mainly occurring in care homes (29.5 per cent), private homes (4.5 per cent) and hospices (1.3 per cent).

In Scotland, of the total number of deaths registered in week 22 there were 131 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, a decrease of 99 from the previous week and the fifth weekly reduction in a row.

Deaths involving Covid-19 accounted for 12 per cent of all deaths registered in week 22, the proportion having fallen steadily from its peak in week 17 when the virus accounted for 36 per cent of all deaths, according to National Records for Scotland.

Some 46 per cent of Covid-19 deaths registered to the end of May occurred in in care homes, while a further 46 per cent were in hospitals and 7 per cent at home or non-institutional settings.

The proportion of Covid-19 deaths which took place in care homes has risen over time but has dropped back in recent weeks and represented 52 per cent of all Covid-19 deaths in week 22.

Three quarters (76 per cent) of all deaths in Scotland involving Covid-19 to date were of people aged 75 or over.