Coronavirus: Number dying at County Durham care home reaches 13

The number of people who have died at a care home in County Durham after suffering symptoms related to coronavirus has reached 13.

The latest death related to COVID-19 at Stanley Park Care Home in Stanley occurred on Monday morning.

It is one of a number of care homes which have been particularly hard hit by coronavirus, which is known to be highly dangerous for elderly and vulnerable people.

A spokeswoman for Care UK, the group that runs the home, said the latest resident to die had symptoms that could indicate the virus, though no test had been done.

She 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.”

Karen Morrison, regional director of Care UK, said staff were doing everything they could to keep residents safe.

The first case at the home occurred at the end of March, when a resident died in hospital.

Ms Morrison said: “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.

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

“Despite all that has happened, they continue to deliver the very best care in a kind and professional way.

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

She added: “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 and we continue to use it meticulously, as we have since the first case was seen at the end of last month.”

Among care homes that have been seriously affected have been Burlington Court Care Home, in Glasgow , where 16 people died, and Palms Row Healthcare in Sheffield where eight people died in under two weeks.

During the government’s daily news briefing on the coronavirus outbreak, Professor Chris Whitty said he would like to see testing increased at care homes.

Asked if deaths were recorded properly in such homes, he said: “Everybody who sadly dies, the doctor will make an assessment based on her or his view about what the cause of death is, that’s what the death certificate says in all cases.”

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He added: “Doctors take it very seriously and try to make sure that they get as much information to give accurate data.

“One of the things we want to do is to extend the amount of testing of people in care homes as the ability to test ramps up over the next few weeks.

“Because clearly care homes are one of the areas where there are large numbers of vulnerable people and that is an area of risk and therefore we would very much… like to have much more extensive testing.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Number dying at County Durham care home reaches 13