The outbreak of Covid-19 has led to the death of least 20,000 people in care homes in England and Wales according to an estimate by Reuters based on official data.
The news agency calculated that excess deaths in care homes totalled over 19,990 in England and Wales in the eight weeks to 1 May.
That figure is based on a comparison of average weekly deaths in care homes in the same period over five years.
In the eight weeks to 1 May, 37,627 died in care homes of all causes in the two nations according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The Reuters estimate excludes deaths since 1 May and care home residents who were transferred to hospital prior to dying.
The figures also exclude deaths in Scottish care homes.
