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Deaths within the care sector involving COVID-19, England and Wales

15 May 2020

Main points

  • Since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (between the period 2 March and 1 May 2020, registered up to the 9 May 2020) there were 45,899 deaths of care home residents (wherever the death occurred); of these 12,526 involved COVID-19, which is 27.3% of all deaths of care home residents.

  • Of deaths involving COVID-19 among care home residents, 72.2% (9,039 deaths) occurred within a care home, and 27.5% (3,444 deaths) occurred within a hospital.

  • Of all deaths in hospital from 2 March 2020 involving COVID-19, 14.6% were accounted for by care home residents.

  • Between the period 2 March and 1 May 2020, registered up to the 9 May 2020, COVID-19 was the leading cause of death in male care home residents, accounting for 30.3% deaths, and the second leading cause of death in female care home residents, after Dementia and Alzheimer disease, accounting for 23.5% of deaths.

  • Dementia and Alzheimer disease was the most common main pre-existing condition found among deaths involving COVID-19 and was involved in 42.5% of all deaths of care home residents involving COVID-19.

  • The Care Quality Commission collect information on recipients of domiciliary care in England, between 10 April 2020 and 8 May 2020 there were 3,161 deaths of recipients of domiciliary care, this was 1,990 deaths higher than the three-year average (1,171 deaths).

  • The provisional number of deaths of care home residents occurring in England and Wales from 28 December 2019 to 1 May 2020, registered up to 9 May 2020, was 73,180; of these 12,526 involved COVID-19.

Go to ONS data release

Methodology:

Number of deaths within the care sector registered year to date in England and Wales, including deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19), by age, sex and region. Comparisons with other data sources of deaths involving COVID-19 within care homes will be reported.