Jump directly to the content
TRAGIC TALLY

Government say 1,000 people may have died of coronavirus in care homes as it’s feared UK death toll has reached 41,000

CARE home coronavirus deaths hit 400 a day over the Easter weekend, officials have admitted.

Around 1,000 vulnerable care home residents in England were killed in just five days between April 11 and 15 — double the entire previous total of 975

⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

 Coronavirus deaths in English care homes could be double the number already reported
1
Coronavirus deaths in English care homes could be double the number already reportedCredit: AP:Associated Press

The grim toll, from the Office for National Statistics, is on top of the large number of people who have died in hospital with the virus.

Yesterday that official total rose by another 763 to reach 18,100 deaths.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Britain had “reached the peak” of its Covid-19 outbreak. He said he was confident daily death tolls would not get any higher, but stressed social distancing must continue to bring the number of new cases down.

The Department of Health yesterday said it fears a “significant rise” in fatalities not related to the virus among care home residents.

'SIGNIFICANT RISE'

The number could include sick Brits having heart attacks or strokes but being too scared to go to A&E for help.

In a statement issued with the Care Quality Commission, the Government said: “It is anticipated that the number of deaths in care homes relating to Covid-19 reported by providers between April 11 and April 15 could be double the number of care home deaths reported yesterday.”

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said the spike in deaths was “heart-breaking”.

She said: “Hearing about the rising numbers of deaths in social care is deeply worrying for anyone with a loved one living in a care home.

“What’s going on in care homes is an absolute tragedy in the making. Every single one of these people matter and we must ensure this can never happen again.”

She urged ministers to make sure that care homes had the right protective kit and access to testing.

Join our George Cross campaign for NHS staff

We are urging Sun readers to sign a petition calling for our NHS staff to be awarded the George Cross.

We are backing a proposal by Lord Ashcroft to honour our health heroes with the gallantry gong given for acts of bravery that did not take place in battle.

A No10 spokesman said: “The NHS is doing a fantastic job and the nation will want to find a way to say thank you when we have defeated this virus.”

SAS hero Andy McNab added: “The award of a George Cross would show an emotional appreciation.”

We are asking our readers to please sign the petition below.

Sally Copley, from the Alzheimer’s Society, declared yesterday: “The true impact of the coronavirus in care homes is becoming increasingly clear, and that’s why we’re demanding swift action.

“With the further report of a possible 1,000 deaths just over Easter weekend, this is a frightening time for everyone with relatives with dementia in care homes.”

Speaking at the Downing Street briefing, England’s top doctor said the current number of fatalities in care homes was likely to be an “underestimate”.

'UNDERESTIMATE'

Prof Chris Whitty said: “In care homes, what we have is a large number of people of the most vulnerable age for this virus.

“When we look back over this epidemic — and I want to be really clear we are not anywhere near that — I’m sure we will see a high mortality rate in care homes sadly because this is a very vulnerable group and people are coming in and out of homes and that cannot, to some extent, be prevented.”

Dominic Raab also admitted that protecting care homes had proved to be a “challenge”.

The Foreign Secretary said: “We are conscious there is a challenge with care homes — I’ve said that in my earlier remarks — but we are doing everything we can.

 

“The situation is improving, we are getting the PPE to those places that need it.

“We are working with the military in relation to some of the mobile testing labs, because we know it is difficult for some people in care homes to access the testing. We are doing everything we can.”

Meanwhile, Labour demanded elderly Brits sick with Covid-19 should be moved out of care homes and into hospital wards to save thousands of lives.

Piers Morgan blasts minister over care-home death-toll calling it a ‘scandal of epic proportions’