UK Covid deaths among worst big European economies

The UK had one of the worst increases in death rates of major European economies during the Covid pandemic, BBC analysis has found.

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

That was above the increase seen in France, Spain or Germany, but below Italy and significantly lower than the US.

Back in April and May 2020, the UK was seeing one of the worst waves of Covid deaths in the world.

But Prof Sir Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, warned against international comparisons of Covid deaths too early in the pandemic.