Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Social Care, commenting on the Government publishing daily figures of deaths outside of hospital for the first time, said:

“The daily reporting of Covid-19 death rates outside hospital, including in care homes, is important for our fight against this pandemic. These devastating figures show that further action is urgently required to reduce the spread of the virus and keep care users and staff safe.

“More needs to be done to ensure all care staff get the PPE they need and to ensure social care is properly funded to deal with the extra costs of the pandemic. The Government must also introduce a strategy for intermediate care, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by people who are discharged from hospital and help struggling care homes.”