Care home dead

More than half had outbreaks Third of all fatalities had Covid

been collected on deaths of care home residents, wherever they died. Previous data excluded residents who were taken to hospital and died there.

The tragedy was happening as the Government insisted it was “throwing a protective ring” around care homes.

Almost 300,000 people live in care homes in England, staffed by 440,000 carers. Covid-19 was the leading cause of death in male care home residents, at 33.5%, and the second leading cause of death in female care home residents.

ONS testing suggested each care home which reported an outbreak saw 20% of residents and 7% of staff contract Covid-19. Four out of five residents to test positive had no symptoms.

Homes where staff were not entitled to sick pay had higher infection rates.

PM Boris Johnson said yesterday: “We will have to go back and look at the whole issue of what happened in care homes in great, great detail.

“I think what happened was absolutely tragic, there’s no question that we saw far too many lives lost in care homes and we mourn for every one.”

Ministers have said care home staff will be tested each week and elderly residents each month from Monday.

Samantha Benham-hermetz, of

Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “It’s now vital that testing begins quickly, as lives depend on it. People in care homes have tragically been bearing the brunt of this pandemic for too long.”

Chris Hopson, of NHS Providers, said: “Experts suggest tests should happen twice a week in order to be effective.

“The monthly tests for staff and residents... falls very short of that standard.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said: “We have been doing everything we can to ensure care home residents and staff are protected...”