The number of Covid deaths over the winter was similar to those caused by flu in previous years, official figures have revealed.

Deaths caused by the virus rocketed during the first waves of the pandemic before a vaccine was developed and rolled out.

This, along with immunity from natural infection, now means the Covid mortality rate has ‘fallen more in line’ with that of flu or pneumonia during pre-pandemic years.

In January this year, there were 4,100 deaths caused primarily by a Covid infection in England and Wales, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

That compares with a January average of 4,048 deaths from flu or pneumonia in the four years preceding the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.