Coronavirus deaths in care homes rise to 6,391 reveals CQC

There have been 6,391 COVID-19 deaths in care homes up to the 1 May, care home providers in England have told the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Latest death figures are for the period 10 April to 1 May. Figures are based on the number of deaths the CQC is notified of by care homes.

The data was incorporated into death figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 5 May.

'Behind every statistic is a human loss'

Week-to-week analysis of the latest data reveals there has been 2,044 coronavirus care home deaths reported to the CQC in the seven days up to 1 May - a fall from 2,379 deaths the week before (up to 24 April).

Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group (ICG), which represents care homes, domiciliary care agencies, supported living and extra care housing providers, said: "Every person lost to Covid-19 is felt deeply by those caring for them.

"Behind every statistic is a human loss, the tragic passing of a much-loved mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or friend. We must never forget that."

Care home deaths in Wales

Separate ONS figures for England and Wales reveal there were 5,890 coronavirus-related care home deaths registered up to 24 April. This is up from over 3,000 the week before. Some 1,306 deaths took place in private homes and 301 in hospices.

The ONS reported 121 COVID-19 deaths in Welsh care homes in the week ending 24 April.

Care home deaths in Scotland

Figures from the National Records of Scotland, (published last week), showed 2,272 deaths involving COVID-19 had been registered in Scotland up to 26 April.

More than 30,000 people in the UK have died of the coronavirus. The number of global COVID-19 deaths are over 250,000.