Thread by @faisalislam

2020 up until Christmas Day saw most UK excess deaths versus previous 5 years since 1940: ONS

https://twitter.com/NickStripe_ONS/status/1346862701910360065

And adjusted per thousand population, excess deaths over previous 5 years higher already than any year since 1950 including the 1950s flu epidemic: ONS

https://twitter.com/nickstripe_ons/status/1346863072435179520?s=21

Already in 52 weeks to Christmas Day, 2020 surpassed 600k UK total deaths for 1st time since 1918 Spanish flu epidemic (tho then population about 40m vs 67m)...unfortunately missing final week data will add few thousand - also comparison with recent years...

Excess deaths include factors other than direct covid too, eg social econ impact of restrictions and theres some august heatwave there, but widely agreed to be best comparable measure internationally and over time of deaths arising from pandemic and pandemic response

There’s definitely something to explain in the post 2010 mortality figures generally too... or perhaps in the pre 2010 declines

https://twitter.com/simonproven/status/1347136571443732481?s=21