The South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse neighbourhoods which saw the biggest rise in their death tolls during the coronavirus pandemic have been revealed – as well as those which seemingly escaped without major impact.

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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 than others.

In the 14 months to the end of April, there were 1,518 deaths registered in South Oxfordshire – 75 more than the 1,443 predicted, according to the ONS figures.

Of the deaths, 204 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.

In the same period, there were less deaths in the Vale of White Horse with 1,466 registered – 220 more than the 1,246 predicted.

Of the deaths, 187 had Covid-19 listed as the main cause.

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A further breakdown also reveals which neighbourhoods had the highest and lowest excess death rates during the pandemic.

In South Oxfordshire, the neighbourhoods with the highest excess death rates were:

1) Chalgrove, Stadhampton and Dorchester – 77 deaths, 20 (35.1%) more deaths than expected, and including eight with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Chinnor and Tetsworth – 97 deaths, 21 (27.6%) more deaths than expected, including 21 due to Covid-19

3) Benson and Crowmarsh Gifford – 67 deaths, 12 (21.8%) more deaths than expected , including 10 due to Covid-19

The neighbourhoods with the lowest excess death rates were:

1) Didcot West – 59 deaths, 12 (16.9%) fewer than expected, and including seven with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

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2) Beckley and Horspath – 46 deaths, six (11.5%) fewer than expected, including six due to Covid-19

3) Wheatley and Great Haseley – 63 deaths, six (8.7%) fewer than expected, including four due to Covid-19

In the Vale of White Horse, the neighbourhoods with the highest excess death rates were:

1) Dean Court, Cumnor and Appleton – 138 deaths, 48 (53.3%) more deaths than expected, and including 28 with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Kingston Bagpuize and East Hanney – 81 deaths, 23 (39.7%) more deaths than expected, including three due to Covid-19

3) Grove – 73 deaths, 19 (35.2%) more deaths than expected , including six due to Covid-19

The neighbourhoods with the lowest excess death rates were:

1) Sutton Courtenay, Drayton and Steventon – 68 deaths, one (1.4%) fewer than expected, and including five with Covid-19 listed as the main cause

2) Botley and Kennington – 96 deaths, four (4.3%) more than expected, including 14 due to Covid-19

3) Faringdon and Stanford – 124 deaths, six (5.1%) more than expected, including 22 due to Covid-19

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.

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

Despite the Health Foundation saying in its Covid-19 Impact Inquiry report that those in poor health, cramped housing conditions and some working environments faced an increased risk of exposure to Covid, Oxfordshire County Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council says neighbourhoods being affected differently is due to 'complex reasons.'

In a joint statement, the authorities said: "People around the world have been affected by Covid-19 and sadly many people have died. Throughout the entire world some neighbourhoods have been affected more than others and there will be multiple and complex reasons for this.

"In Oxfordshire we have been focussing all our efforts on preventing deaths and serious illness by encouraging those eligible for a vaccine to get jabbed and promoting regular testing of those without symptoms."

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