Oxford saw the highest mortality rates in Oxfordshire during the first peak of the pandemic, a new interactive map shows.

A new report from the Office for National Statistics shows how many excess deaths there have been in each area of the country and how the mortality rate has changed between March 2020 and April 2021. 

In England and Wales, there have been two periods during the coronavirus pandemic when weekly and monthly registrations of deaths from all causes were consistently higher than the five-year average – known as ‘excess deaths’.

Like much of the country, many places in Oxfordshire experienced elevated numbers of excess deaths during the pandemic. 

READ MORE: Covid-19 and excess deaths across Oxfordshire revealed in new table

The first peak of the pandemic in April 2020 saw elevated mortality rates across Oxfordshire, similar to what the rest of the country was experiencing.

Oxford saw the highest death rate per 100,000 people in the county at 1,981.

The lowest mortality rates in the county during the first peak was in South Oxfordshire which had a death rate of 1,334 per 100,000 people.

In August and September 2020, the mortality rate in Cherwell peaked slightly above England’s average before dropping back below it in October.

During the peak of the second wave in January 2021, Oxford, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell were the districts in Oxfordshire with higher death levels.

At this time, Oxford again had the highest death rate per 100,000 in the county - although it was lower than the first peak - at 1,478.

The lowest death rate in Oxfordshire in January 2021 was the Vale of White Horse, at 960 deaths per 100,000.  

There are, however, two areas in West Oxfordshire which recorded zero deaths due to Covid-19 – where coronavirus was listed as the main cause of death - between March 2020 and April 2021.

READ MORE: These two Oxfordshire areas have recorded ZERO Covid-19 deaths

Eynsham & Stanton Harcourt are included on a list of just 14 areas in England and Wales which have recorded no Covid-19 deaths.

How have mortality rates in Oxfordshire changed during the pandemic?

Using the interactive table and map below you can scroll to see how morality rates have changed throughout Oxfordshire during the pandemic.

As different local authorities have different sized populations and proportions of people of different ages, age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) are used to make a fair comparison between these larger areas.

Age-standardised mortality rates are presented per 100,000 people and standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population.

Age-standardised mortality rates allow for differences in the age structure of populations and therefore allow valid comparisons to be made between geographical areas, the sexes and time periods.