Need For Caution As Home Deaths Grow

Shock increase in Covid-19 deaths

A shock increase in Covid-19 care and nursing home deaths has prompted providers to urge the community to follow the lockdown rules to prevent more following.

Latest figures show that 280 people died from Covid-19 in care and nursing homes in the week up to 6th November – a jump from 168 the previous week.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) which represents care providers, said it was vital people followed the lockdown rules and that the Government supported care and nursing homes.

It has also warned of growing worries over the mental health of residents who are not getting visitors.

ICG Chair Mike Padgham said: “This is quite a shocking increase and our thoughts go to all those who have lost loved ones to this dreadful pandemic.

“The care of older and vulnerable people is once again a front line in the fight against coronavirus and we are going to need concerted action from the public and support from the Government to prevent further losses.

“We appeal to everyone to keep following the lockdown rules. As infection rates go up, death rates are inevitably going to go up too. The only way we can get through this is to get that infection rate down.

“We must never forget that one death from Covid-19 is a death too many and each loss is a tragedy – a loved one, a husband or wife, father or mother, brother or sister, aunt or uncle or friend.”

Today’s figures from the Office for National Statistics show 280 people died from Covid-19 in care and nursing homes across England and Wales in the week ending 6th November, up from 168 the previous week and 153 the week before that.

Some 16,442 people died from Covid-19 in these homes from 28th December to 6th November.

The ICG is increasingly worried about the mental health of people in care and nursing homes as the pandemic goes on and they are deprived of visits from family and friends.

“The impact on their mental health is growing and we are fearful that some may get to the point where they almost give up,” Mr Padgham added. “We desperately need to find a way to enable visits again and are pleased that the Government has begun a pilot for tested visitors to be allowed in. We need to press on with that and get it rolled out across the country. Of course, there are risks to allowing visits, but there are mounting risks to the health and wellbeing of our residents from not allowing them too.”