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Coronavirus: 13 residents at County Durham care home die after displaying symptoms

Care UK said everyone at Stanley Park Care Home in Stanley, County Durham, is “really saddened” after the latest death on Monday morning.
Care UK said everyone at Stanley Park Care Home in Stanley, County Durham, was saddened after the latest death on Monday morning.

Thirteen residents of a care home in County Durham have died after displaying coronavirus symptoms.

Care UK, which runs Stanley Park care home in Stanley, said everybody at the home was “really saddened” after the latest death, on Monday morning.

The victim was living in the home and had symptoms that could indicate COVID-19, though the home said no test had been carried out.

Stanley Park which had its first case at the end of March, is just one of a number of homes across the UK hit badly by the coronavirus.

All care and nursing home residents are in highly vulnerable categories, owing to their age or health conditions.

Care UK regional director Karen Morrison reassured relatives of those in the home that staff have all the necessary protective gear to prevent the virus from spreading and are doing everything they can to keep residents safe.

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Burlington Court Care Home in Glasgow where 16 residents have died from Coronavirus, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
Earlier this month, Four Seasons Health Care confirmed that thirteen people died in the space of a week after a suspected coronavirus outbreak at a care home in Glasgow. (PA)

Morrison said: “It is with great regret that I have to let you know that we have lost another resident at Stanley Park Care Home late this morning, bringing the total to 13. Everyone in the home is really saddened by this news.

“My heart goes out to the families and friends of residents who have passed away over the past few days. We are all thinking of them at this difficult time and send our condolences and best wishes.

Read more: Care home coronavirus deaths being 'airbrushed out of official figures'

“The manager and her team at the home continue to be absolutely amazing and I cannot thank them enough.

“Their determination and commitment to support every resident, and each other, through these very challenging times is incredible.

“I’d like to reassure everyone, including relatives of those in the home, that we are doing everything in our power to keep people safe and comfortable.

“We have all the necessary PPE [personal protective equipment] and we continue to use it meticulously, as we have since the first case was seen at the end of last month.”

Read more: What's happening in UK care homes is a scandal our grandchildren will ask about

Earlier this month, Four Seasons Health Care confirmed that 13 people died at Burlington Court care home in Glasgow in the space of a week after a suspected coronavirus outbreak.

Last week, Palms Row Healthcare, which runs three nursing homes in Sheffield, had nearly 40 confirmed cases, and eight people have died in under two weeks alone.

About half of all COVID-19 deaths appear to be happening in care homes in some European countries, according to figures gathered by UK-based academics who warned that the same effort must be put into fighting the virus in care homes as in the NHS.

Snapshot data shows that in Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and Belgium between 42% and 57% of deaths from the virus have been in care homes.

On Monday, care bosses claimed that hundreds of COVID-19 deaths in care homes are going unreported in an attempt to “airbrush out” the true numbers of elderly people who have died.

Care England – the leading body of care providers in England – estimates that the coronavirus death toll in care homes across the country is likely to be close to 1,000, but such deaths are not included in headline figures.

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