Coronavirus deaths in care homes could be as high as 7,500, according to new figures
THE number of coronavirus deaths in care homes could be as high as 7,500, according to new figures.
Research by Care England puts the death toll far higher than previous estimates as the virus is rips through homes.
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Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, the UK’s top care home body, told : “Without testing, it is very difficult to give an absolute figure.
“However, if we look at some of the death rates since April 1 and compare them with previous years’ rates, we estimate a figure of about 7,500 people may have died as a result of Covid-19.”
The figures lie in stark contrast to official data from the Office for National Statistics, which so far indicates there were just 217 care home deaths registered up until April 3.
FIGURES OUT ‘VERY SHORTLY’
It comes as the government pledged to provide more reliable data on care home deaths earlier this week.
Yesterday the Care Quality Commission (CQC) said it had began collecting data on deaths linked to Covid-19 which occurred in both hospitals and care homes.
They have promised to reveal official figures “very shortly”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said yesterday: “I asked CQC to make sure that we record the data in care homes specifically, of those who are residents of care homes, whether they die in hospital or in the care home, and they started collecting that data yesterday and it will be published very shortly.”
We estimate a figure of about 7,500 people may have died as a result of Covid-19.
Professor Martin Green, Care England
“So I have introduced a new measure that will directly address this question.”
A CQC spokeswoman said: “We are currently working with ONS to explore how to provide a more detailed and timely picture of the impact of coronavirus on adult social care, using the data on deaths of people with suspected and confirmed Covid-19 that we collect from providers.”
“This will also give a regional view of which areas are being most impacted and may need additional support as a result.”
“We are working closely with ONS on how our data could be used to inform their public reporting, with details confirmed shortly.”
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It comes after coronavirus deaths in the UK have jumped to 14,576 after 847 more people died in hospital yesterday.
The Department of Health confirmed yesterday that 108,692 people have tested positive for the deadly bug – up 5,599 from yesterday’s figures.
The latest infection figures appeared to spike more than in previous days – but this could be due to a backlog in testing over the Easter weekend.
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