Steep fall in coronavirus deaths in Sunderland - but warning we must not lapse on social distancing rules

The weekly death toll from COVID-19 in Sunderland has slumped to just one, according to the latest official figures.

The outbreak has been linked to almost a fifth of all deaths in the city since the start of 2020, rising to more than half in the single most deadly week at the height of the crisis.

“Everybody needs to stay alert and local plans have been developed to prevent and control further outbreaks,” said Gillian Gibson, director of public health at Sunderland City Council.

“People still need to comply with social distancing, be alert to symptoms, access testing where needed and to self-isolate if tested positive or if contact traced.”

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the week ending June 19 just one out of 57 deaths in Sunderland was officially linked to COVID-19.

It marks nine consecutive weeks of decline in the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the city.

At the outbreak’s peak on Wearside, in the week ending April 17, 89 out of 159 death certificates issues referenced the virus as a possible cause or contributing factor.

The figures mean Sunderland had the joint second lowest COVID death toll in the North East in the week ending June 19 – tied on one with North Tyneside, but behind Darlington, which did not record any coronavirus fatalities over the seven days.

According to experts, the data has shown an ‘encouraging pattern’ nationally.

Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics at the Open University, said: “Numbers of deaths in which COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate have fallen to their lowest level since late March.

“The number of deaths from all causes in the most recent available week (ending 19 June) was below the average number in the corresponding week over the previous five years.

“Weekly numbers of deaths have not been below the average of the past five years since mid-March.”

However, Prof McConway also warned the virus ‘hasn’t gone away’.

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