Deaths in England and Wales spiked alongside the mercury by up to 12 per cent on days when the nation baked in 40C heat, new analysis from the Office of National Statistics shows.
Covid deaths have yet to spike in England and Wales despite infections doubling in the past month in sign some experts say is almost certain proof the darkest days of the pandemic are behind us.
Roughly 2.3million Britons had Covid in the week ending June 24 - up by a third on the previous spell. Even though rates are climbing quickly, they remain a fraction of levels seen in past peaks.