Street coronavirus: Further three care home deaths linked to coronavirus in Mendip

A further three care home deaths that have been linked to coronavirus have occurred in the Mendip district, new figures reveal.

It comes as care home bosses across the UK warn of problems in sourcing sufficient levels of personal protective equipment (PPE), while Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the number of deaths in care homes is still "far too high".

Office for National statistics data shows that in Mendip, which includes Street, 14 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered up to May 2 – up from eight the week before.

This only includes deaths that occurred up to April 24 which were registered up to eight days later.

Of those, four occurred in care homes. A further death occurred in a hospice, another community establishment or elsewhere.

In the previous week, one Covid-19 death had been recorded in care homes.

It means at least five Covid-19-related deaths in Mendip occurred outside hospital up to May 2 – equal to 36 per cent of the total figure from the ONS.

ONS figures are based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions.

The number of people who died of the coronavirus in Mendip's hospitals up to May 2 was nine, according to the ONS, three more than the week before.

Across England and Wales, there were roughly 27,400 coronavirus-related deaths up to April 24. Of those, 72 per cent occurred in hospitals and 22 per cent in care homes, with the rest taking place elsewhere.

Separate data showed care homes notified the Care Quality Commission of 6,391 deaths of residents in homes between April 10 and May 1.

Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association's community well-being board, said: "This appalling loss of life in our care homes and communities is another stark reminder of just how much more must be done to protect our most elderly and vulnerable.

"Every death from this virus is a tragedy, leaving behind family and friends in mourning.

"Social care is the frontline in the fight against coronavirus and we need to do all we can to shield people in care homes and those receiving care in their own homes."

Mr Hudspeth added that social care and frontline workers "urgently" need PPE to protect themselves from contracting the virus.

Colin Angel, policy director for the UK Homecare Association, which represents home care providers, said sourcing such equipment for workers is a main concern.

He told BBC Breakfast: "I think every homecare provider in the country is really struggling to get a sure supply of PPE, and having enough to be confident that they can continue providing care services.

"The levels of stress it's creating both for providers delivering care and their frontline care workers is really high."

Mr Angel said more government support is needed as additional cost pressures mount.

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