Responding to the latest ONS figures on coronavirus deaths, which
show that deaths involving COVID-19 as a percentage of all deaths
in care homes decreased to 23.4 per cent in the week to 5 June,
compared with 28.2 per cent in the previous week, Cllr Ian
Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s
Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Every week we are painfully reminded of each one of the lives
tragically lost to this dreadful disease. Our thoughts go out to
those family and friends in mourning at this difficult time.
“Social care remains the frontline in the fight against
coronavirus and while it is clear we are now past the peak of the
virus in care homes, it is still seriously concerning that nearly
a third of all deaths from COVID-19 continues to happen in these
settings.
“We have also seen a slight weekly increase in the number of
people dying from COVID-19 in their own homes and other communal
settings, which is equally worrying.
“Excess deaths in care homes and private homes continue to be
higher than the five-year average, compared to hospitals which
have seen a decline, leaving our older people and most vulnerable
at risk.
“Councils are doing all they can to protect those in care homes,
as well as those receiving care in their own homes. Every council
in England has prepared plans on how to support all care homes in
their areas to control and prevent future infection outbreaks,
working alongside the NHS locally and with Public Health England.
“The Government needs to ensure that councils and social care
services have all the resources they need for the weeks and
months ahead. The LGA will also be working closely with the new
National COVID-19 Social Care Support Taskforce to tackle these
issues and help guide social care through this current crisis and
beyond.”
