Covid was the THIRD leading cause of death in England in September - and only heart disease and dementia killed more, official data shows Office for National Statistic (ONS) figures show coronavirus was behind 2,955 deaths in England last month Virus made up 6.6 per cent of all deaths during the month, a higher proportion than last month (5.3 per cent) Overall, 44,474 people died in the country — 7,215 deaths (17.4 per cent) more than the five-year-average By Joe Davies For Mailonline Published: 11:05 BST, 22 October 2021 | Updated: 11:05 BST, 22 October 2021 Viewcomments Advertisement Covid was the third leading cause of death in England last month with only heart disease and dementia killing more people, official data today revealed. Office for National Statistic (ONS) figures revealed coronavirus was behind 2,955 deaths in England in September — nearly 100 per day. The virus made up 6.6 per cent of all deaths during the month, a higher proportion than last month (5.3 per cent) when it was also the third biggest cause of death. Only dementia (4,976 deaths) and heart disease (4,424) killed more people during September. Overall, 44,474 people died in the country — 7,215 deaths (17.4 per cent) more than the five-year-average for the month. Covid was the third leading cause of death in England last month with only heart disease and dementia killing more people, official data today revealed Only dementia (4,976 deaths) and heart disease (4,424) killed more people during September. Graph shows: The age standardised mortality rate per 100,000 for different causes of death in September In England, two of the 10 leading causes of death were significantly lower than the five-year average (2015 to 2019) and 4 of the 10 leading causes had no significant difference to the five-year average. The ONS said: 'As seen in previous months, the mortality rate for deaths with an underlying cause of influenza and pneumonia was lower in September 2021 than the five-year average for September (23.9 per cent lower). 'This is likely in part to be because of people continuing to follow coronavirus guidance, such as social distancing, reducing the spread of infections such as flu.' It comes after Britain’s daily Covid cases breached 50,000 for the first time in three months yesterday. Department of Health bosses recorded another 52,009 infections, a 15 per cent jump on a week ago and the highest number since July 17 at the peak of the summer spike. The daily average is now approaching peak second wave levels. Latest hospitalisations rose by a third in seven days after 969 Covid-infected people were admitted to wards, but deaths (115) dropped compared to last Thursday. Separate figures also showed infections are rising in every age group and four-fifths of areas in England, with an even more transmissible strain of Delta thought to be to blame. AY.4.2 has spread to all but two dozen places in the country. And the country’s largest symptom-tracking surveillance study suggested daily cases have already hit 80,000, feared to be the threshold at which the epidemic becomes 'unstable'. Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, has maintained that the country is equipped to deal with 100,000 cases per day, however. Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility