COVID-19 a factor in over 300 deaths in Sunderland
Hospital deaths increased by six to 198. twelve people died at private homes and another five at hospices or other community establishments.
That means care homes accounted for 32% of all COVID-19 fatalities up to May 30.
The figures include deaths that occurred up to May 22 which were registered up to eight days later. ONS data is based on where COVID-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate.
Across England and Wales, more than 44,000 deaths involving COVID-19 were provisionally registered up to May 30.
Of those, 36% occurred outside hospital – the majority in care homes.
Although statistics show weekly COVID-19 fatalities across the UK are falling, scientists say the high overall death rate is because the epidemic started earlier than predicted, with care homes poorly protected.
A Public Health England
review into disparities around the risk of coronavirus has identified age as the biggest factor, with pensioners aged 80 or older 70 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those under 40.
Professor Neil Ferguson, of Imperial College London, told the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee he was “shocked” at how badly care home populations were protected globally.
He said: “I am shocked about how badly European
– or countries around the world – have protected care home populations.
“If we had done a better job of reducing transmission in closed institutions like hospitals and care homes, we would have a little bit more room.
“The infections in care homes and hospitals spilled back into the community.”
The data shows there were 2,589 deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales registered in the week ending May 22.