Published by Sarah Yeoman at 6:17am 10th June 2020.

More than 80 deaths linked to coronavirus have occurred outside hospital in Cornwall, according to the latest figures.

But there is some indication that the area's death rate outside hospital may be gradually falling, with weekly fatalities lower than they were five weeks ago.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the epidemic in care homes "is coming under control", as he announced the Government's testing regime would be expanded to thousands more homes across England.

A social care task force has also been introduced to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the sector, a move which charity Alzheimer’s Society said was “badly needed to ensure an end to the devastation that coronavirus has wreaked in care homes".

Office for National Statistics data shows that in Cornwall, 198 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered up to June 6th.

Of those, 83 occurred outside hospital – including 65 in care homes and 18 at private homes.

• Covid-19: Two more care home deaths recorded in Cornwall

That was an increase of two compared to the 81 deaths that had been registered outside hospital during the previous week.

However, it was smaller than the weekly rise of 15 seen in Cornwall five weeks earlier, indicating a falling death rate in the area.

The figures, based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, include deaths that occurred up to May 29th but were registered up to eight days later.

During a recent Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock said the proportion of people dying in care homes fell by 79% from the peak in the week ending April 24th to the week ending May 29th, according to the Care Quality Commission.

“With all of the measures that we’ve put in place over the past few months, all of the billions of pounds extra that we’ve put in, it’s clear that the epidemic in care homes is coming under control."

Matt Hancock, Health Secretary

David Pearson, former chief of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, who will lead the new social care task force, said the unit will bring together the actions of central and local government.

He told the press conference: "Our focus will be on stopping infection whilst trying to ensure the wellbeing of all people who receive care and support"

Image by Matt from Pixabay

Fiona Carragher of Alzheimer’s Society, said the task force should “urgently review why people with dementia have been worst hit by the virus, as well as directly address the complex needs and challenges they have."

"With the threat of a second spike, the Government must ensure that the tragedy of the last few months is not repeated," she added.

The number of deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales reached its lowest weekly level for eight weeks at the end of last month, ONS data shows.

There were 1,822 deaths involving coronavirus in England and Wales registered in the week ending May 29th.

At less than a fifth of all deaths registered that week, Covid-19 accounted for the lowest proportion of fatalities since the week lockdown was imposed.

You can find all the source data here.