The period of “excess deaths” which has characterised the second wave of COVID-19 has now come to an end, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
For the first time since September, the number of people dying of all causes in England and Wales has dropped beneath the five-year average.
According to the figures, 10,987 people died in the week ending 12 March, which was 511 below the historical average for that week, the 10th week of the year.
