THE relatively slow increase in the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Thurrock has continued, with just two new cases notified in the latest update today (Wednesday, 22 April) from Public Health England.

That takes the Thurrock total to 236 cases. Nationally there have been 133,495 confirmed cases - up 4,451.

Another 759 people in the UK have died in hospital, bringing the total to 18,100. There have been 201 deaths at Basildon & Thurrock Hospital with a further four people dying there on Monday and Tuesday.

However, when a final reckoning is taken of the toll of deaths from coronavirus the figure is going to be much higher as these statistics only account for deaths in hospitals.

Coronavirus is likely to result in a high mortality rate in care homes, England's chief medical officer has said.

Chris Whitty said it was hard to prevent deaths in care homes "sadly because this is a very vulnerable group".

Current statistics (on Tuesday the Office for National Statistics said 1,000 people died in care homes in the week to 10 April) were likely to be an "underestimate", he added because of the delays in producing death certificates and processing other relevant information.

In Thurrock there are 32 registered care homes, of which 16 are specifically for older people.

No statistics are available locally for the number of coronavirus cases or deaths in local care homes, though it is known there have been some.

Runwood Homes, which runs four care homes in Thurrock and one in Harlow says least 23 residents have died with Covid-19.

In Thurrock it runs Leatherland Lodge (48 beds) in South Ockendon, The Whitecroft (56 bed) in Grays, Carolyn House (52 bed) and Bennetts Lodge (48 bed) in Chadwell St Mary.

A spokesperson for Runwood Homes said: "Of our five homes across Thurrock and Harlow, we have unfortunately experienced 23 residents passing away who tested positive for COVID-19.

"There have been an additional 34 deaths recorded from this collection of homes during the pandemic. We care for older people, some of whom are very frail, and potentially receiving end of life care.

"The most vulnerable age for this virus."

"Others' health may have naturally deteriorated due to pre-existing health conditions. Though some of these deaths could be due to suspected COVID-19, it is very difficult to state a proportion"

Mr Whitty has said: "In care homes, what we have is a large number of people of the most vulnerable age for this virus."

When it was possible to "look back over this epidemic", he added, "I'm sure we will see a high mortality rate in care homes sadly because this is a very vulnerable group and people are coming in and out of care homes and that cannot, to some extent, be prevented."

The Department of Health has said it also feared a "significant rise" in deaths not related to coronavirus among residents.

Thurrock Council has not responded to media requests for information about its homes or older people in its care.