Here is a wee chart I have put together to provide a visual representation of the differences in recorded excess deaths between the four nations of the UK.
I have shown a percentage for each country for the weeks prior to the first COVID-19 related death being recorded. As you can see, these are negative, ranging from (3.5%) for Wales up to (5.8%) for Northern Ireland.
Combined, there were 145,231 recorded deaths in the UK for these periods in the UK, 3.8% lower than the 5 year average of 151,192.
The second percentage for each country is for the weeks from the first recorded COVID-19 death through to the most recently released figures. These are all positive figures, ranging from 30.2% in Northern Ireland to 60.2% in England.
Combined, there were 165,207 recorded deaths, 56.3% higher than the five year average of 105,673.
England and Wales use the same reporting periods, each week finishing on a Friday. Northern Ireland also uses a Saturday to Friday weekly reporting period, however their week 1 is one week later than for England and Wales.
These are the stats that begin to tell the true picture.
Then we can factor in COVID related deaths ,(trying to bear in mind dying with COVID is not the same as dying of COVID), to get some idea of excess deaths not directly linked to COVID (How will these be explained ?) - then population densities, demographic profiles , other countries numbers etc.
No doubt , the public bar statisticians will be burning the midnight oil looking for the angles to support their preordained point of view, with Radio 5 phone ins to confirm the nation's outrage.
These are the stats that begin to tell the true picture.Then we can factor in COVID related deaths ,(trying to bear in mind dying with COVID is not the same as dying of COVID), to get some idea of excess deaths not directly linked to COVID (How will