Wigan experienced 94% 'excess deaths' in April

The number of people who died in Wigan last month was almost double the average for April, new data has shown.
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The new figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that in April 2020, 526 people died from all causes in Wigan.

This marked a sobering 94.2% rise in "excess deaths" from the 271 deaths that Wigan typically sees in the month of April, based on a five-year average.

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Excess deaths means the number of people who died for any reason over and above the expected number of deaths for that time of year.

Wigan sees spike in excess deathsWigan sees spike in excess deaths
Wigan sees spike in excess deaths

The sharp rise in deaths across the country is widely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which some estimating the death toll to be as high as 48,000, though the Government has only confirmed some 37,000 deaths related to the virus.

The complete figures for Wigan released by the ONS were:

- Deaths from all causes in April 2020: 526

- Average deaths from all causes each April, over previous five years: 271

- The number of 'excess' deaths in April 2020 above what would be expected (overall number minus the average for the previous five Aprils): 255

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- Percentage change in deaths in April 2020, compared to average from previous five years: 94.2%

There are around 150 local authorities across the country which saw double the normal number of deaths for an average April, including St Helens, Milton Keynes, Harborough, Luton, Sheffield, Central Beds, Harrogate, Northampton, Mid Sussex and Hambleton.

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