Keep up pressure and defeat the virus - say carers

As care and nursing home deaths drop by a third, the Independent Care Group says it is vital that the country keeps up the pressure on the virus.

Chairman of the group Mike Padgham said: “Today’s figures are welcome but we must not become complacent and let coronavirus take hold again.

“We have all worked so extremely hard to get Covid-19 under control, it would be a tragedy if we took our foot off the gas now and let a second spike happen.”

Today’s figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 1,090 people died in care and nursing homes from Covid-19 in the week up to 22nd May. That is down from 1,660, the previous week, 1,666 the week before that, 2,423 the week before that and 2,800 the week before that.

“We have to remember that each death is a tragedy – someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle or friend and for that reason we cannot let up,” Mr Padgham added.

“Lockdown measures are being relaxed and we understand why. But coronavirus in care and nursing homes hasn’t gone away and it is vital that we proceed safely and sensibly to keep protecting our most vulnerable.”

● Social care currently looks after 400,000 people in care and nursing homes – that is three times the number in NHS hospital beds. Social care looks after a further 640,000 people in their own homes.