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| Coronavirus: Care home deaths up as hospital cases fall | Coronavirus: Care home deaths up as hospital cases fall |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are now happening in care homes, figures show. | A third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are now happening in care homes, figures show. |
| Office for National Statistics data showed there were 2,000 coronavirus care home deaths in the week ending 17 April, double the previous week. | Office for National Statistics data showed there were 2,000 coronavirus care home deaths in the week ending 17 April, double the previous week. |
| It brings the total number of deaths in care homes linked to the virus since the start of the pandemic to 3,096. | It brings the total number of deaths in care homes linked to the virus since the start of the pandemic to 3,096. |
| Projections for the following week - up to last Friday - suggested the numbers have since continued to rise. | Projections for the following week - up to last Friday - suggested the numbers have since continued to rise. |
| In comparison, coronavirus deaths in hospital, which passed 20,000 at the weekend, have started falling after peaking on 8 April. | |
| Mike Padgham, of the Independent Care Group, which represents care homes, said they were now the "true front line" in the fight against coronavirus. | |
| He said: "It is taking a terrible toll. These are our loved ones - mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and friends who have been taken from us early." | |
| It came as: | It came as: |
| Why official virus care home deaths may be an underestimate | Why official virus care home deaths may be an underestimate |
| The daily updates provided by government do not include care home deaths. | The daily updates provided by government do not include care home deaths. |
| The ONS has been able to track these by looking at deaths certificates - but that means the data lags behind the hospital deaths provided by the government. | The ONS has been able to track these by looking at deaths certificates - but that means the data lags behind the hospital deaths provided by the government. |
| Up until 10 April just over 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths had been recorded in care homes so far. | Up until 10 April just over 1,000 coronavirus-related deaths had been recorded in care homes so far. |
| A week later this had increased by another 2,000 to hit 3,096 in England and Wales. | A week later this had increased by another 2,000 to hit 3,096 in England and Wales. |
| Data provided by the Care Quality Commission, which receives reports from care homes in England, suggest the following week, up until last Friday, saw an even bigger rise. | Data provided by the Care Quality Commission, which receives reports from care homes in England, suggest the following week, up until last Friday, saw an even bigger rise. |
| Similar trends are being seen in Northern Ireland and Scotland. | Similar trends are being seen in Northern Ireland and Scotland. |
| But even these figures may be an underestimate. | But even these figures may be an underestimate. |
| The overall number of people dying in care homes is now three times higher than it was before the pandemic started. | The overall number of people dying in care homes is now three times higher than it was before the pandemic started. |
| Fewer than half of these extra deaths are being attributed to coronavirus. | Fewer than half of these extra deaths are being attributed to coronavirus. |
| Labour's shadow social care minister, Liz Kendall, said it was clear that the virus was having a "devastating impact" on care homes. | Labour's shadow social care minister, Liz Kendall, said it was clear that the virus was having a "devastating impact" on care homes. |
| "Urgent action is needed to get a grip of this problem." | "Urgent action is needed to get a grip of this problem." |
| The government has recently expanded testing so all care home residents showing symptoms are now eligible for tests, while the Army is helping to distribute protective kit for staff. | The government has recently expanded testing so all care home residents showing symptoms are now eligible for tests, while the Army is helping to distribute protective kit for staff. |
| What does this mean for excess deaths? | What does this mean for excess deaths? |
| Official figures show the total number of people dying in the UK from all causes in hospitals and the community is double what we would expect for this time of year. | Official figures show the total number of people dying in the UK from all causes in hospitals and the community is double what we would expect for this time of year. |
| Government advisers say this is important to track as it reveals the indirect impact of the pandemic, from factors such as people missing out on care and dying from other conditions, as well as coronavirus deaths. | Government advisers say this is important to track as it reveals the indirect impact of the pandemic, from factors such as people missing out on care and dying from other conditions, as well as coronavirus deaths. |
| In the week to 17 April the total number of deaths in England and Wales topped 22,000 - the highest since records began in 1993. | In the week to 17 April the total number of deaths in England and Wales topped 22,000 - the highest since records began in 1993. |
| Once you include Northern Ireland and Scotland the figures are nearly 25,000. | Once you include Northern Ireland and Scotland the figures are nearly 25,000. |