One in three care homes in England has now been infected with Covid-19 – with that figure rising to 100% in one London borough.
Every one of the 11 homes in Camden has now reported at least one case of the disease, according to updated figures released by Public Health England.
Across the country as a whole, 686 homes reported their first outbreak in the week ending 3 May.
It takes the total number of English care homes to have suffered at least one infection to 5,117 out of a total of 15,514 – or 33.0%.
The figures suggest the number of care homes reporting cases for the first time has slowed slightly over the past few weeks.
Some 856 homes reported their first outbreak in the week ending 26 April, 973 in the week ending 19 April, and 1,016 in the week ending 12 April.
However Public Health England only counts the first outbreak in a home – so there is no way of knowing whether care homes that reported their first outbreaks in early April, or even March, have seen more cases since then.
A geographic breakdown of the data shows there are now 52 local authorities in England where at least half of local care homes have had Covid-19 cases.
After Camden (100%) come two other London boroughs (Hammersmith & Fulham, and Kensington & Chelsea). Ipswich (71%) and West Oxfordshire (70%) are next – with both showing big increases in the last week.
Among major English cities, 60% of care homes in Sheffield have had at least one outbreak, as have 56% of homes in Newcastle, 55% of homes in Liverpool, and 50% of homes in Leeds.
