Coronavirus Kent in Five Graphs Week 23 (05/06/20)

NB: All deaths are by local authority and by cause of death, for deaths that occurred up to 5th June but were registered up to 13th June in England and Wales. They are provisional figures and subject to possible change. Source of data ONS.

All data is for Kent local authorities including Medway only.

All Causes/places of death

The number of overall deaths from Covid in Kent continues to fall, but at a much shallower rate than the rise in weeks 12 to 16, as one would expect. Week 23 is the week to June 5, which is too early to see any possible reversal of progress thanks to the gradual easing of the lockdown rules. In week 23 there were 282 deaths in Kent. Assuming the pre-Covid average of around 350 deaths per week is the seasonal average outside the normal flu season, then it is even clearer that overall deaths, even including Covid, are now below the seasonal average – thanks in no small part to many Covid victims having co-morbidities that would likely have led to their deaths in 2020 anyway, only at a later date.

Hospitals

The reduction of hospital deaths is steady but still slow. Representing two thirds of all Covid deaths in Kent, hospital deaths reflect the overall picture. It would appear that people are still not presenting at hospital with other serious conditions at the rate they were before the outbreak.

Care homes

There was no change for the better in Covid-19 deaths in Kent care homes in week 23, after the encouraging fall the week before.

Deaths at home

One recorded death at home from the virus in week 23. These figures are too small to show anything of statistical significance, but they perhaps indicate the importance of the public not letting its guard down. Home remains the safest place to be.

Other communal establishments

There has been one more Covid-19 death in this category in Kent in week 23, and 7 across the whole of England and Wales. At its peak in week 16 there were 50 Covid-19 deaths in this category across England and Wales.

Hospices

Covid-19 has affected hospices in Kent, but because of the nature of these establishments it is hard to see whether it has made a significant impact on the overall number of deaths. This category must be the most difficult to ascribe Covid-19 as the single cause of death.

All of the Shepwayvox Team extend their thanks and gratitude to all NHS staff, all carers in care homes and hospices, to all community volunteers, Kent Fire Brigade, Kent Police and Paramedics for their and anyone else we may have forgotten. The thanks you are all owed is immeasurable.

The numbers above are not just numbers, they represent a real person who has passed away because of covid-19, or for other health reasons. Each of them have family, loved ones and friends. To each of you, wherever you are in Kent or Medway, we extend our deepest condolences to you, as we understand many of you will not have been able to be with them at the end.

The one comfort we can all take from the persons passing, is that each of them received the most powerful drug in the world –kindness. It work’s for everyone, it’s hard to get the dose wrong, and it’s free at the point of delivery. Thanks to all those who have delivered that throughout this crisis.

The Shepwayvox Team

Journalism for the People NOT the Powerful