MORE than 900 deaths linked to coronavirus have now been recorded by Cheshire East and West councils.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show deaths registered by the two councils up to July 18, including deaths that took place by July 10 and were recorded up to eight days later.

They include anyone who has Covid-19 mentioned on their death certificate.

In Cheshire East – including Knutsford, Wilmslow and Middlewich – 545 deaths connected to Covid-19 were recorded by the council at that time.

They included 310 deaths which took place at hospital, 218 in care homes, 12 at private homes and five in hospices or other community sites.

That is an increase of 47 in the past month, as 498 deaths connected to coronavirus were recorded by the council up to June 20.

Meanwhile in Cheshire West, which includes Northwich and Winsford, 403 deaths involving Covid-19 were registered by the council by July 18.

They included 271 in hospitals, 111 in care homes, 14 at private homes and seven in hospices or other community sites.

That is an increase of 38 in the past month, as 365 deaths connected to coronavirus were recorded by the council up to June 20.

It means that in total, 948 deaths linked to coronavirus have been registered across the two boroughs, an increase of 85 since June 20.

Across England and Wales, 51,021 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered up to July 18.

In the week ending July 10, there were 366 deaths across the two countries which mentioned coronavirus on the death certificate – the lowest number since March 20.

However, the past month has seen a below average number of deaths than is usually expected at this time of year in England and Wales, based on an average from the past five years.

The ONS says some vulnerable and elderly people who might have been expected to die during this period did so earlier due to the pandemic.