GRIM TOLL Real UK coronavirus death toll is over 47,000 – with almost 11,650 in care homes

THE true UK coronavirus death toll has reached more than 47,000 - with 11,650 deaths in care homes.

The Office for National Statistics figures show that 42,173 died from the virus in England and Wales up to May 15.

Combined with the latest ONS stats for Scotland and Northern Ireland, it means a total of 46,383 have died across the UK.

A further 964 hospital patients in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 died between May 16 and May 24 meaning that the overall UK death toll is just above 47,300.

The figure is 10,000 more than the official Department of Health stats - which today saw fatalities hit 37,030.

There have now been almost 60,000 more deaths than would usually be expected - so-called excess deaths - since the outbreak began.

In heartening news, the number of people who died of coronavirus in England and Wales dropped to its lowest number in six weeks - although 3,810 still died.

Other key findings in today's ONS stats reveal

• 42,173 deaths involving the deadly bug occurred in England and Wales up to May 15
• For the first time, deaths in care homes accounted for more than half of the total number of deaths with Covid-19
• The North West had the highest number of deaths from the bug for the second week in a row
• There were 4,385 more deaths than the five-year average
• The number of deaths involving coronavirus decreased for the third week running

Stats also show that 135,575 deaths were registered in England and Wales between March 21 and May 8 2020. This includes both coronavirus and non-coronavirus related deaths.

The figure is almost 54,000 more deaths in England and Wales than the average for this period in the previous five years.

This combined with the 4,434 excess deaths in Scotland and 834 in Northern Ireland means the toll of excess fatalities has reached almost 60,000.

In care homes, the number of fatalities was 2,350 higher than the five year average.

Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England, has previously warned that these excess deaths will be the “key measure” in assessing the impact of the bug.

According to the National Records of Scotland, a total of 3,546 deaths had occurred involving Covid-19 by May 17.

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, the statistics agency recorded 664 deaths up to May 15.