THE Isle of Wight neighbourhoods which saw the biggest rise in death tolls during the coronavirus pandemic have been revealed — and those which escaped without major impact.

Data published by the Office for National Statistics comparing the number of deaths registered during the pandemic to a baseline from previous years shows some areas of the country were significantly more affected by excess deaths than others.

In the 14 months to the end of April, there were 2,376 deaths registered on the Isle of Wight – 273 (13 per cent) more than the 2,103 predicted under normal circumstances, according to the ONS figures.

Of the deaths, 255 had Covid-19 listed as the main cause — however, many Covid-related deaths at the start of the pandemic may have been undiagnosed, the ONS cautioned.

A further breakdown for the Isle of Wight, released for the first time, reveals which of the area's 18 neighbourhoods had the highest and lowest excess death rates during the pandemic.

The measurement compares the number of deaths registered during the period with how many were predicted based on previous mortality rates between 2014 and 2019.

It has been described as the key metric for the impact of the pandemic by Prof Chris Whitty, the government's chief medical officer.

On the Isle of Wight, the neighbourhoods with the highest excess death rates were:

1) Ryde South – 141 deaths, 34 (31.8 per cent) more deaths than expected, and including ten with Covid-19 listed as the main cause.

2) Cowes Central – 114 deaths, 25 (28.1 per cent) more deaths than expected, including 12 due to Covid-19.

3) Ventnor and Wroxall – 152 deaths, 26 (20.6 per cent) more deaths than expected, including 14 due to Covid-19.

The neighbourhoods with the lowest excess death rates were:

1) East Cowes and Osborne – 83 deaths, five (5.7 per cent) fewer than expected, and including nine with Covid-19 listed as the main cause.

2) Ryde Central – 87 deaths, three (3.3 per cent) fewer than expected, including two due to Covid-19.

3) Niton, Shorwell and Godshill – 72 deaths, two (2.9 per cent) more than expected, including five due to Covid-19.

In its Covid-19 Impact Inquiry report, the Health Foundation said people aged under 65 living in the most deprived areas were almost four times more likely to die from the virus, compared to those in the most affluent.

It found those in poor health, cramped housing conditions and some working environments faced an increased risk of exposure.

Across England and Wales, the ONS reported that two periods over the 14 months – March 2020 to July 2020 and September 2020 to March this year – saw the highest rates for excess deaths.

On the Isle of Wight, the highest number of excess deaths came in January this year when there were 67.

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