Only two areas recorded more than 20 coronavirus deaths in July, according to ONS figures

In comparison, in May 224 local authorities had more than 20 deaths (16 in Wales, 208 in England) and in June, there were 39 (three in Wales, 36 in England).

The ONS said numbers are higher as under local authority geography it included non-metropolitan districts, metropolitan districts, unitary authorities and London boroughs.

Leicester had the highest number of deaths in July 2020 with 24 deaths and a rate of 10 deaths per 100,000 population. 

This was higher than the number of deaths recorded in March (16 deaths and a rate of 7.0 deaths per 100,000 population) but lower than the numbers of deaths recorded in April (153 deaths), May (87 deaths) and June (35 deaths).

Meanwhile, Ashford recorded 21 deaths in July 2020; this was lower than the numbers of deaths in April, May and June (53, 47 and 47 deaths respectively). The rate in July was 16.2 deaths per 100,000 population, significantly lower than April, May and June. 

There were only three deaths that occurred in March, meaning that an age-standardised rate was not available.

Researchers also found the mortality rates for people living in the most deprived areas was more than double (3.1 deaths per 100,000 people) the rate of those in the least deprived (1.4 deaths per 100,000 people).