Coronavirus deaths in care homes soar in England, Wales

Bloomberg

The number of deaths caused by Covid-19 in care homes in England and Wales soared to 2,050 in the week ending on April 17, more than double the number a week earlier, highlighting the difficulties the government faces in stopping the spread of the virus.
The latest toll contributed to the overall number of fatalities rising to the highest since comparable figures began in 1993. Deaths in care homes now account for more than a quarter of all those linked to the disease. Care homes are emerging as the key battleground in the battle against the virus in
Europe, where older populations make them more vulnerable to the pandemic. The UK has faced criticism of its efforts to supply protective gear to the industry to protect workers and the elderly alike.
There were 22,351 deaths registered for the week, an increase of 21% from the previous week, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday. The figure was 113% higher than the average figure for the previous five years.
The overall numbers of deaths involving Covid-19 is higher than those announced by the government on a daily basis because that data includes only those who perished in hospitals. More than 30% who passed away from suspected cases of the virus did so outside hospitals in the week through April 17.
Mortality statistics released by European governments are producing a clearer picture of the devastating toll Covid-19 is taking, as they are less affected by discrepancies in reporting methods. In the UK’s case, the rapid rise in deaths has not been fully accounted for by those attributed to the virus, indicating that some may be missed or that the pandemic is killing people in other ways. The gap between deaths attributed to coronavirus and the number above the five-year average was more than 3,000 last week.