Care providers fear a spike in the number of care and nursing home deaths from coronavirus if lockdown restrictions are lifted too quickly despite a downward trend in weekly data.
There were 2,423 care home deaths linked to Covid-19 registered in the week ending 1 May, figures from the Office for National Statistics show, down from almost 2,800 for the week before.
However, overall care home deaths exceeded hospital deaths in the weekly figures for the first time.
Responding to today’s figures on the latest Covid-19 deaths in care and nursing homes, representative body Independent Care Group (ICG) urged caution.
“Whilst today’s figures do demonstrate a downward trend, care providers are very conscious that death and sickness from coronavirus is still very real and frightening within care and nursing homes and that we must not ease up,” said IGC chairman Mike Padgham (pictured).
The IGC chief warned against easing lockdown restrictions too soon.
“Homes have to maintain lockdown restrictions, even though it might be frustrating for relatives and friends, because we are not through this yet, not by a long way,” said Padgham.
“It is good news that death rates appear to be falling and that the Government is starting to ease lockdown measures. But as far as the situation in care and nursing homes is concerned, we have to stay as we are; otherwise we will get more and more deaths,” he added.
“What we also need now is some expert guidance from the Government on how we move forward, particularly over lifting restrictions on people visiting their loved ones. We have to be extremely cautious but our residents cannot remain in lockdown for ever.”
Meanwhile, social care market analysts Carterwood has warned that Covid-19 could increase care home deaths in the over-65s in England by as many as 36,000 in the coming year.
