The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) last week released a provisional tally of the changes in Australia’s overall death rate amid the coronavirus epidemic.

The figures record 33,066 doctor-certified deaths in Australia from 1 January to 31 March, 2020 — compared with an average of 32,249 during the corresponding months during the years 2015-19.

What’s more, the final week of March 2020 featured the highest weekly death rate of the entire three-month period, with 2649 recorded deaths.

That week also featured the highest numbers of deaths from respiratory diseases, diabetes and dementia.