UK Covid deaths among worst of big European economies

According to BBC analysis, the UK had one of the worst increases in death rates of major European economies during the pandemic. 

On average, death rates in the UK were more than 5% higher each year of the pandemic than in the years just before it, largely driven by a huge death toll in the first year. 

It was higher than the increases seen in France, Spain or Germany but below Italy and significantly lower than the US. 

In April and May 2020, the UK was suffering one of its worst waves of Covid deaths. 

But England’s chief medical officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, warned against international companies of Covid deaths too early in the pandemic. He says we should look at deaths for any reason, since they do not depend on what a country calls a Covid death. 

He also said the analysis should take into account the age profile of each country, which can also explain a lot of differences in death rates.