At least two deaths linked to coronavirus in West Lindsey were not in hospital

It comes as care home bosses across the UK warn of problems in sourcing sufficient levels of personal protective equipment (PPE), while Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the number of deaths in care homes is still "far too high".

Office for National statistics data shows that in West Lindsey, 12 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered up to May 2.

This only includes deaths that occurred up to April 24 which were registered up to eight days later.

Of those, two occurred in care homes.

In the previous week, no care home deaths linked to Covid-19 had been recorded in West Lindsey.

It means at least two Covid-19-related deaths in West Lindsey occurred outside hospital up to May 2, equal to 17 per cent of the total figure from the ONS.

ONS figures are based on where Covid-19 is mentioned anywhere on the death certificate, including in combination with other health conditions.

The number of people who died of the coronavirus in West Lindsey's hospitals up to May 2 was 10, according to the ONS, five more than the week before.

Across England and Wales, there were roughly 27,400 coronavirus-related deaths up to April 24.

Of those, 72 per cent occurred in hospitals and 22 per cent in care homes, with the rest taking place elsewhere.

Separate data showed care homes notified the Care Quality Commission of 6,391 deaths of residents in homes between April 10 and May 1.

Commenting on this figure, Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s community well-being board, said: “This appalling loss of life in our care homes and communities is another stark reminder of just how much more must be done to protect our most elderly and vulnerable.

“Every death from this virus is a tragedy, leaving behind family and friends in mourning.

“Social care is the frontline in the fight against coronavirus and we need to do all we can to shield people in care homes and those receiving care in their own homes."

Mr Hudspeth added that social care and frontline workers "urgently" need PPE.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor