London, Europe Brief News- The number of COVID-related deaths in England and Wales increased by nearly 40% in a week.
The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows some 400 deaths registered in the seven days to 7 October mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate.
The new deaths reached their highest number since August, the figures show.
The latest figures came amid a new wave of infections across the country.
Figures published last week by the ONS showed that COVID-19 infections are continuing to rise in both England and Wales.
Some 1.5million – equating to one in 35 people – in private households in England tested positive for the virus in the week up to 3 October.
This is up from 1.1million, or one in 50 people, the week earlier.
Meanwhile in Wales, an estimated 74,900 people, the equivalent of one in 40 people, have tested positive – an increase from 63,400 or one in 50 people seven days earlier.
Across the UK in the same weekly period, infections soared by a third, with a total of 1.7million testing positive.
There were 9,631 people in hospital with the virus as of 8am on 5 October – up 37% on 7,024 the week earlier.
