36 Covid deaths at care homes in county

THERE were 36 Covid-related deaths in Hampshire care homes at the beginning of January, as nationally figures surpassed 20,000 since the start of the pandemic.

Between January 1 and 8, the county’s care homes saw the highest number of coronavirus deaths since May, with 28 recorded in the Hampshire County Council area.

And according to data from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), there were five in Portsmouth and three in Southampton in that time.

This is an increase from the week before when there were 23 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes across the county between December 25 and 31.

And it is the highest weekly figure for Hampshire since May 9 to 15 when 47 were recorded, and follows a period between June and September where some weeks there were none.

It comes as health bosses and carers’ unions told The News a swift rollout of the vaccine was needed to protect care homes in Hampshire.

Between January 1 and 8, there were 865 Covid deaths in care homes in England, bringing the total since records started on April 10 to 20,042.

This is significantly higher than the week before when there were 617 across the country.

The Hampshire County Council area has the second highest number of total Covid deaths in care homes with 541 – behind Kent which has had 688.

In Portsmouth the total is now 55 and in Southampton the total is 66.

On January 5, Southampton had its first Covid death in a care home since October 1.