Milestones in the rise of the UK’s Covid-19 death toll

PA

January 30 2021 marks the first anniversary of the earliest known death involving Covid-19 in the UK.

Since then, more than 100,000 deaths have been recorded.

Here are some of the key milestones in the rise of the death toll.

All figures are based on the most up-to-date statistics for people who had Covid-19 recorded on their death certificate, published by the Office for National Statistics.

HEALTH Coronavirus Deaths
HEALTH Coronavirus Deaths

– January 30 2020: The earliest known death involving Covid-19 in the UK. The victim is 84-year-old Peter Attwood, from Chatham in Kent. His death is not formally confirmed as having involved Covid-19 until the end of August.

– February 2: The second known death involving Covid-19, of a man aged between 55 and 59. A third death follows on February 22, of a woman aged between 30 and 34. Further deaths occur on March 2, March 4-6, then every day from March 8.

– March 12: First death involving Covid-19 in Scotland.

– March 15: First death involving Covid-19 in Wales. The cumulative UK death toll, based on mentions of Covid-19 on death certificates, passes 100.

– March 18: First death involving Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

– March 23: The cumulative death toll passes 1,000. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces a UK-wide lockdown.

– April 2: First of 23 consecutive days when more than 1,000 daily deaths are recorded in the UK.

– April 5: Cumulative death toll passes 10,000.

– April 8: The “deadliest” day of the pandemic so far, with 1,457 deaths in the UK.

– April 17: Cumulative death toll passes 25,000.

– May 23: Cumulative death toll passes 50,000.

– June 18: The daily death toll drops below 100 for the first time since March 19. It returns above 100 on June 24 and June 25, then remains below 100 until October.

– August 24: The daily death toll drops briefly into single figures – nine deaths – for the first time since March 11.

– October 7: 108 deaths involving Covid-19 – the first time the daily toll has been above 100 since June 25.

– November 18: 508 deaths involving Covid-19 – the first time the daily toll has been above 500 since May 9.

– November 26: Cumulative death toll passes 75,000.

– January 7 2021: Cumulative death toll passes 100,000.

– January 30: Anniversary of first known death involving Covid-19 in the UK.

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