England and Wales have experienced a record number of deaths in a single week, with 6,000 more than average for this time of year.
Only half of those extra numbers were attributed to the coronavirus. Experts said they were shocked by the rise, particularly in non-Covid-19 deaths, and expressed concern that the lockdown might be having unintended consequences for people’s health.
There are fears that patients are not seeking help for life-threatening conditions, including heart attacks, because they are worried about catching coronavirus in hospital.
Experts said that conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure may also be proving harder to manage during the lockdown.
The latest figures are for the week ending April 3. They record certified deaths throughout the country, rather than
