Deaths in care homes made up 40.4% of the overall number of coronavirus fatalities across England and Wales in the week to 1 May.

According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 8,312 coronavirus-related deaths in care homes in England and Wales during that period.

COVID-19 was mentioned on a third of all death certificates in the two countries that week.

The Office for National Statistics’ death total since the start of the outbreak – 33,337 – is also still 6,495 higher than the Department for Health’s figures during the same period.

However, the total number of fatalities with COVID-19 on death certificates in England and Wales did decrease for a second consecutive week.

And for the first time, there was a decrease in all regions on the previous week and London did not account for the biggest share – that went to the South East.

Pressures on social care are far from over
Analysis by Laura Bundock, news correspondent

The ONS figures are the most accurate measure of the death toll related to the pandemic.

They include deaths where COVID is suspected but a test wasn’t carried out.

For the second week now, this figure has dropped, confirming we have passed the peak.

Break the figure down by region and London no longer has the highest number of COVID related deaths. It shows the capital reached and came through its peak earlier than the rest of the country.

But what we also see is where the deaths are occurring, and once again the number of deaths in care homes is continuing to rise.

It shows while the pressure on hospitals is easing, the pressures on social care are far from over.

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