The national lockdown could have indirectly caused more than 16,000 excess deaths, say Government analysts.
For every three coronavirus deaths a further two occurred because of medical restrictions.
It’s thought people were reluctant to attend A&E departments.
Also, difficulties accessing medical help contributed to the number.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said another national lockdown would only be considered as a “nuclear option”.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and analysts from Government departments have been crunching the numbers.
Estimates show there were 35,800 excess deaths in England connected to the pandemic between March 23rd and May 1st.
The report says 41% of those deaths were from missed medical care and not the virus.
Of the 16,000 deaths, the paper estimates 6,000 were because of a “significant reduction in A&E attendances and emergency admissions”.
It states: “Some of this is unmet need, possibly due to patients’ reluctance to seek medical attention or other changes to protocols.”
The report suggests the remaining 10,000 deaths probably occurred in care homes among patients having been discharged from hospital or not wanting to go to hospital.
The ONS suggests there could be a further 26,000 excess deaths by March 2021 – a full year after lockdown.
However, the report believes 2,500 lives may have been saved by people taking up a healthier lifestyle during lockdown.
The document was presented to the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) last month but was only released on Friday.
