Coronavirus deaths in London have halved in a week, the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed today (Tuesday 12 May).

A total of 474 people died of the virus in the capital in the week to 1 May – down from 947 the week before.

London has been hit harder than any other part of the UK during the pandemic, with more than 5,000 people dying in total.

But the latest ONS figures show Covid-19 deaths are now down to less than a quarter of the number recorded at the peak of the virus in mid-April.

In the worst week for London, 1,916 people died of the disease.

Because of the virus, deaths in the city are still 28 per cent above average for this time of year – with a total of 1,179 deaths in the week to May 1, compared to the five-year average of 920.

The worst affected boroughs are Brent (36 deaths), Croydon (32 deaths) and Barnet (27 deaths) according to the latest data.

But fewer people died in each of these areas compared to last week – deaths halved in Barnet, there were more than 40 per cent fewer in Croydon, and a quarter fewer in Brent.

There were no deaths in the City of London this week, five in Kensington and Chelsea, and seven in Hackney and Westminster respectively.