In just two weeks care homes report 4,343 coronavirus deaths

The healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reported 4,343 coronavirus related deaths in care homes in England in just two weeks.

The figure was the latest date released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS said there was 22,351 deaths week ending 17 April, up by 3,835 from the previous week. The ONS recorded 11,854 more deaths than the fiver year average.

During the week coronavirus was mention in 8,758 registered deaths, which includes all deaths across England and Wales in hospitals or in the community.

There have been 190 related deaths in hospices and 883 in private homes.

A government scientific advisor has said that up to 100,000 coronavirus tests will be needed with widespread testing and tracing strategy to end the lockdown.

Professor Peter Horby, chairman of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), who are advising ministers, said this will be a “real logistical challenge” for the government.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, “The test and trace capabilities are really going to be critical as we come out of lockdown.”