MORE than 40 people have died from coronavirus in Dorset care homes in the past two weeks.

The statistics are released by the Office for National Statistics and the Care Quality Commission.

They are categorised under local authorities and published weekly.

Between April 10 and April 25, 46 people died in care homes across the county.

24 people have died in the Dorset Council area, the first coming on April 10.

The most recent deaths in the Dorset Council area came on April 24, when two people died.

In the BCP Council area, 22 people have died.

The first of these deaths came on April 12.

The worst day for deaths in BCP was on April 23, when six people died.

Across care homes in England, 4,343 people have died.

In previously released figures showed that although most deaths from Covid-19 in the county have so far happened in hospitals, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows more people died in care homes in the week ending April 17.

And this trend is expected to continue with Care Quality Commission (CQC) records showing the number who died in care homes last week is likely to increase for the fourth week in a row.

Its figures lag behind the daily hospital updates because they are collected through analysis of death certificates. However, health secretary Matt Hancock announced the government would include care home deaths from this week.

Concerns have been raised that not enough support has been given to these companies to limit the spread of the virus.

In Dorset, local authorities have been helping supply personal protective equipment (PPE) to firms that have been unable to source their own.

Ian Hudspeth, the chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said the number of deaths in care homes had been “exacerbated” by shortages in the equipment.

“Social care is now 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.

“It is urgent that the government’s online PPE ordering system is fully rolled out as soon as possible, so that councils and care providers can directly request that critical protective equipment gets to those who desperately need it.”

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Hancock said care home staff and residents in England would all be eligible to be tested, regardless of whether they have any symptoms of the virus.

Testing has also been rolled out to all over-65s and their households with symptoms and workers who need to leave home and their households.