Fears people dying at home alone

Britain’s coronavirus lockdown has led to dozens of people dying at home alone and not being discovered for up to two weeks, it has been reported.

It comes as the Evening Telegraph reported a man’s body may have lain in his Dundee flat for weeks before joiners broke down the door at the weekend.

It is understood worried neighbours contacted the authorities after becoming concerned with the smell in the flat, with some fearing the body could have been in the property for some time.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Emergency services were called to a property on Greenbank Place, at around 1pm on Saturday, following the sudden death of a 65-year-old man.

“There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.

“As with all sudden deaths, a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

The head of the Royal College of GPS, Professor Martin Marshall told The Guardian deaths could be linked to the lockdown banning people from visiting each other and pushing people to avoid NHS care.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is also creating an epidemic of loneliness, not just for older people, and sadly there are some people who will fall through the net,” he said.

“GPS are working hard to check on their patients who are shielding, and the NHS volunteers have been doing a good job of looking after vulnerable people in their communities.

“But we are noticing an increase in people dying in the community, often at home and often due to conditions unrelated to Covid-19, such as cardiac arrest.”