LGA RESPONDS TO LATEST ONS FIGURES ON CORONAVIRUS DEATHS

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.”