The number of weekly care home resident deaths involving Covid-19 in England and Wales have fallen to double-digit levels for the first time since early October.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 86 care home resident deaths were recorded where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate in the week ending 2 April (week 13).
That compares with 150 care home resident Covid-related deaths in the week ending 26 March and 195 the week before that.
The latest figure is the lowest since 87 Covid-related deaths were recorded in the week ending 15 October (week 41, 2020).
The data refers to all deaths where either the death occurred in a care home or occurred elsewhere - such as hospitals - but the place of residence of the deceased was recorded as a care home.
The ONS data shows 1,742 care home residents died from all causes in week 13 – down from 2,141 a week earlier - meaning Covid was a factor in five per cent of total deaths.
Figures published by the ONS also show a total of 41,448 care home resident deaths involving Covid-19 in England & Wales between the week ending 20 March (week 12, 2020) and the week ending 2 April.
