London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

UK health secretary slammed for saying ‘only a quarter’ of Covid-19 deaths in care homes is ‘a good thing’

UK health secretary slammed for saying ‘only a quarter’ of Covid-19 deaths in care homes is ‘a good thing’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has caused a backlash after suggesting the UK can be proud of limiting the amount of Covid-19 fatalities in care homes to “only a quarter” of all deaths linked to the virus.

During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today program Hancock insisted that measures to keep people apart and suppress the spread of infection had begun earlier in care homes than in the general community.

He then appeared to boast about the UK’s record on battling Covid-19, saying that “only around a quarter of the deaths that have happened have been in care homes. That’s much lower than most international comparators.”

Hancock also claimed that the coronavirus death rate among healthcare workers has not been higher than the general population, adding: “I think that is a really good thing.”

However, data published by the UK Office for National Statistics on Tuesday ostensibly contradicts Hancock’s care home death toll figures. It showed that coronavirus deaths in English and Welsh care homes had surged to 8,312 by May 1, meaning 40 percent of fatalities linked to the deadly virus occurred in care homes.

The health minister has been roasted by many people online, voicing their anger at Hancock’s somewhat flippant remarks about elderly fatalities suffered in care homes. Some branded it a “horrible and callous take” and asked why he couldn’t simply just apologize for the error made by the UK government in its response to the pandemic.


One commenter sarcastically joked that if it’s a case of “only a quarter” then their “grieving loved ones should celebrate then??” Another called it “an extraordinary claim,” labeling care home deaths “a national disgrace.”


The latest ONS figures for the period up to May 1 show that 38,355 deaths have been registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, including suspected cases.

However, the true up-to-date data is likely to show deaths surpassing 40,000, with NHS figures showing a further 1,678 hospital patients in England who had tested positive for coronavirus died between May 2 and May 10.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×