NEW: ONS has new data on excess deaths.

In last fortnight we’ve seen 27,230 deaths registered in England and Wales, that’s 38% above five year average.

Deaths in care homes up 125% of five year av for last week.

Deaths at home up 67% for last week.

Last two figs will be slightly inflated because of VE Day reporting complications. Nonetheless situation in care homes in particular remains dire.

This is context in which Cummings affair takes place. Suspect politics would be very bad though perhaps not quite so bad if British deaths weren’t quite so high and government performance versus other countries had been perceived to be better.

interesting that for the first time covid deaths make up over 100% of the excess deaths. As @NickStripe_ONS says this has been 75%ish in previous wks. It might be that we’re getting better at reporting Covid deaths, perhaps other deaths declining, some combination of two...