UK care homes record over 4,300 deaths in a fortnight as total toll surges

BRITAIN is set to become one of Europe's worst-hit countries in the coronavirus pandemic, according to data on Tuesday (28) that showed Covid-19 deaths, including a fast-rising toll in care homes, had already topped 20,000 by April 17.

The Office for National Statistics said the death toll involving Covid-19 in England and Wales was over 50 per cent higher than the daily figures for deaths in hospitals released by the government as of April 17, according to official data that include deaths in the community.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said 21,284 people overall had died as of April 17 with mentions of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on their death certificates.

That was 52 per cent higher than the 13,917 people who died in hospitals, as published by the government on April 18.

The ONS also noted that care homes had recorded at least 4,343 Covid-19 deaths in a fortnight from April 10.

That takes the UK's total death toll as of April 17 beyond those reported by France -- which also includes deaths in care homes -- and Spain, according to Reuters calculations, though lower than Italy's total toll.

The trebling of deaths in care homes in England and Wales within the space of a few weeks contributed to a far higher toll.

The ONS said that overall 7,316 people had died in care homes overall during the 16th week of 2020, almost treble the number reported in the 13th week.

According to figures released by the health ministry on Monday, 21,092 people had died in hospitals across the UK after testing positive for Covid-19.