CORONAVIRUS deaths in care homes nearly doubled in a week to 6,000, the latest figures revealed today as Britain overtook Italy to become Europe’s worst-hit country. 

There were 5,890 Covid-19 deaths registered in care homes in England and Wales in the week ending April 24, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is almost double the total number of deaths recorded up to the previous week when care home deaths stood at about 3,000.