Star date: 25th April 2020

SALFORD HAS HIGHEST NUMBER OF VIRUS CARE HOME DEATHS IN GREATER MANCHESTER

Figures from the Office for National Statistics, or ONS, show that, up to 10th April, Salford had the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Greater Manchester care homes, with 46 sad deaths – 35% of the total number. Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, calls it a "false picture".

Meanwhile, Salford now has 514 confirmed cases of the virus, up 11 from the previous day, while Salford Royal Hospital has that announced one further person has passed away.

Full details here...

This week, the Office for National Statistics, or ONS, released figures of all deaths from coronavirus, as opposed to just hospital deaths, and they show that Salford had the highest percentage and number of deaths in care homes than anywhere else in Greater Manchester (and, apparently, the country) up to 10th April.

The total number of COVID-19 related deaths was 130, to this date, of which 84 happened in hospital and 46 in care homes, or 35%. This was almost four times the average number of deaths in other Greater Manchester care homes, and almost double the average percentage.

Bolton, for instance, had 9 care home deaths, or 16% of its total, while Manchester had ten care home deaths, or 10% of its total.

Yesterday, Salford City Council issued a press release (not to the Salford Star, of course!) stating that health officials "believe this is down to their proactive local response in recognising cases" that have "increased the number of cases that has been captured..."

The release added that "When COVID-19 deaths are removed, Salford no longer has the highest rate of overall deaths in care homes in Greater Manchester and the difference between Salford and other authorities is less..."

In other words, the Council is stating that its testing has led to the higher figures, not the virus itself ripping through care homes here more than anywhere else. And Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, attacked the Government in an open letter...

"It is shocking that government have not introduced mass testing and contact-tracing for all symptomatic people as the current numbers of cases at best creates false pictures" he wrote "It keeps from people the true scale and impact of this pandemic on real people, families, friends, colleagues and loved ones.  At worst this means we do not have an accurate understanding of the disease and how to support our key workers residents now or during the next few weeks and months as we hopefully move to recovery."

Meanwhile, confirmed cases of coronavirus in Salford have now hit 514, up 11 from the previous day's 503.

Manchester still has the highest number of cases in Greater Manchester with 951, followed by Stockport on 717, Bolton 643, Oldham 529, Wigan 529, Trafford 525, Tameside 407, Bury 382 and Rochdale 382.

Sadly, one more death has been announced by Salford Royal Hospital.