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Coronavirus Kent: Care home weekly death toll drops 60%

The number of people dying of Covid-19 in Kent each week continues to fall - with deaths in care homes dropping 60%.

Figures published by the Office of National Statistics show 89 people in the county lost their lives to the virus in the seven days leading up to May 8, down 37% from the 141 the week before.

This chart shows that Kent appears to be well past the peak of Covid-19 deaths
This chart shows that Kent appears to be well past the peak of Covid-19 deaths

At the same time the number of deaths in care homes more than halved week-on-week, from 59 to 24.

The latest ONS statistics show more than 1,000 Covid-19 fatalities in Kent, accounting for deaths in hospitals, care homes, hospices and the community.

Over the course of the week beginning May 4, 108 more people lost their lives.

The ONS statistics revealed that Canterbury's week-on-week toll doubled from 7 to 14.

Meanwhile Thanet fell 63% from 24 to 9.

Medway still has the highest death toll with 141, while Tunbridge Wells has the lowest amount at 38.

These figures focus on a week less than two months after the county's first Covid-19 death on March 20.

Kent's coronavirus death toll has reached the 1,000 mark
Kent's coronavirus death toll has reached the 1,000 mark

Only 184 people had died from the coronavirus in Britain at the time of that first mortality, which occurred at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.

The national figure now stands at almost 34,800 deaths.

With such a high number, it's easy to forget the human impact of each individual lost to Covid-19.

Relatives have been sharing tributes to their loved ones on our dedicated page, a sad reminder of the lives being cut short by the global pandemic.

The number of deaths in the community has continued to fall in recent weeks, allowing for a partial easing of the lockdown.

The county's first Covid-19 death occurred at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham
The county's first Covid-19 death occurred at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham

However the elderly are much more susceptible to the virus and its more serious symptoms, with care homes a particular concern nationwide.

Today's statistics at least provide a glimmer of hope that Kent's care homes may be getting safer for their residents.

Meanwhile, Ashford continues to hold the unwanted title as the local authority with the third highest infection rate nationwide.

The borough has the highest infection rate in Kent at 524.4 cases per 100,000 people, almost double the total Kent rate of 285.3 per 100,000.

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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