Coronavirus care home death rate falls for fifth consecutive week

The COVID-19 death rate in care homes has fallen for the fifth consecutive week in England - down to 773 deaths – reflecting a UK-wide reduction in deaths.

Figures from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published on 2 June, reveals a continuing drop in the number of care home COVID-19 deaths, with 773 deaths reported in England in the week ending 29 May - down from 1,253 deaths the week before (w/e 22 May).

This is a successive fall from a peak of 3,631 coronavirus deaths of care home residents reported for the week ending 24 April. The successive death rate fall in England reflects a drop in care home deaths across the UK. Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, which represents care homes, said: “This is no time for complacency.

"Care homes are communities of the most vulnerable people, and we must do all we can to stop outbreaks of COVID-19 in the care sector.”

Since 10 April (when the CQC began collating figures for COVID-19 care home deaths) there have been 11,186 deaths in England involving COVID-19.

Wales

Data recorded by the Care Inspectorate Wales shows that there were 35 deaths involving COVID-19 in the week ending 29 May.

Northern Ireland

The number of coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland’s care homes has fallen for the third week in a row – down from a peak of 72 deaths for the week ending 1 May.

There have been 13 COVID-19 deaths in Northern Ireland’s care homes for the week ending 22 May – a fall from 32 deaths when compared to the previous week.

Some 318 COVID-19 care home deaths have been reported in Northern Ireland since 20 March, according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra).

Scotland

The number of deaths in Scotland’s care homes fell for a fourth consecutive week, by 62 to 124 deaths for the week ending 24 May, according to National Records of Scotland.