In parts of Europe, the death rate was nine times higher than expected during the deadliest periods of the Covid pandemic, official figures show.
Bergamo, in northern Italy, recorded 156.1 deaths per 100,000 people in the week to March 20 – 800.5 percent higher than the average for that time of year.
This means it has recorded Europe’s deadliest period during the Covid crisis, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). By comparison, Birmingham, which has the highest number of deaths in Britain, saw a rise of 239.5 percent.
At a national level, Italy, the first European country to be overrun by the virus, saw the largest increase in deaths.
Experts told MailOnline that the death toll was fueled by the first wave of the pandemic, when countries struggled to track cases and roll out policies to contain the spread of the virus.
In Britain, Birmingham recorded the highest death rate compared to the pre-pandemic average, peaking at 239.5 percent in the week to April 17, 2020. London (220.8 percent), Manchester (206.8 percent) and Cardiff (146.6 percent). percent) recorded their peak in deaths that same week
The bars show the percentage of weeks between January 2020 and July 2022 in which the mortality rate was above average and greater among young people under 65 than among older people
The ONS looked at the relative age-standardized death rate across Europe for each week between December 28, 2019 and July 1, 2022.
The figures show the difference between the death rate recorded for each of these weeks and the average recorded between 2015 and 2019.
At a national level, statisticians found that Italy’s peak death rate was recorded in the week to March 27, 2020, when 74.1 percent more people died than expected.
Italy was the first country in Europe to be ravaged by Covid. The first case was noted in the northern region of Lombardy in February 2020, and the first wave of deaths peaked in March.
The country’s high death toll has been attributed to its aging population and overburdened healthcare system.
Spain (138.5 percent) and France (50.2 percent) recorded their peak a week later, with deaths concentrated around Madrid and Paris.
The UK Most deaths occurred in the week ending April 17, 2020, when there were 38 deaths per 100,000 people – 97.9 percent higher than expected.
Deaths in England (38.7 per 100,000, 107.6 percent) and Wales (34.8 per 100,000, 68.7 percent) peaked the same week.
The death rate in Scotland shot up in the week to April 10 (37.4 per 100,000, 71.7 percent), while deaths reached their highest point in Northern Ireland in the week ending April 24 (28.7 per 100,000 , 48.2 percent).
The ONS has broken down the figures by areas – the so-called Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics – of which there are 179 in Britain and 1,166 in Europe.
After Bergamo, El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, recorded the highest spike in mortality in 2020 (621 percent), followed by Segovia, northern Spain (620.4 percent) and Cremona, northern Italy (554.6 percent) .
In 2021, the most deadly regions were El Hierro (595.7 percent), Lungau, in southwestern Austria (389.1 percent) and Mayotte, a French overseas territory (379.1 percent).
The largest spike in deaths in 2022 was reported in Lungau (376 percent), Außerfern in Austria (228.9 percent) and Eilean Siar in Scotland (184.1 percent).
The graph shows the age-standardized death rate in London per week between December 28, 2019 and July 1, 2022. The figures show the difference between the death rate recorded for each of these weeks, compared to the average recorded between 2015 and 2019 .
The ONS also investigated which areas had a high mortality rate for the longest time. Bucharest, in Romania, recorded a death rate at least 50 percent higher than expected for a quarter of all weeks during the 30-month period
The ONS also investigated which areas had a high mortality rate for the longest time.
Bucharest, in Romania, recorded a death rate that was at least 50 percent higher than expected for a quarter of all weeks during the 30-month period.
It was followed by Sofia, in Bulgaria (17 percent), and Birmingham (9.4 percent).
In Britain, Birmingham recorded the highest death rate compared to the pre-pandemic average, peaking at 239.5 percent in the week to April 17, 2020.
London (220.8 percent), Manchester (206.8 percent) and Cardiff (146.6 percent) recorded their peak deaths the same week.
Nearly 7 million virus deaths have been reported to the World Health Organization since the pandemic began. Britain has recorded around 230,000 fatalities, with the death certificate listing Covid as one of the causes.