Care home deaths linked to coronavirus have increased by more than 2,500 in the space of a week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
There were 5,890 coronavirus-related care home deaths registered up to April 24 in England and Wales, up from just over 3,000 the week before, the Office for National Statistics said.
Of deaths involving coronavirus up to that point, 19,643 (71.8%) took place in hospitals and 7,713 were elsewhere.
Of these:
– 5,890 took place in care homes
– 1,306 took place in private homes
– 301 took place in hospices
– 105 took place in other communal establishments
– 111 elsewhere
Previous seven days
There were 2,794 care home deaths linked to Covid-19 and registered in the week ending April 24, up from 2,050 during the previous seven days.
This is an increase of 36%.
The ONS said the numbers are based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions.
The number of registered deaths involving Covid-19 occurring in hospitals fell from 6,107 in the week ending April 17 to 4,841 in the week ending April 24 – a decrease of 21%.
It comes as separate data showed care homes notified the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of 6,391 deaths of residents in homes between April 10 and May 1.
Related – Care home workers ‘lambs to the slaughter’ without PPE