CORONAVIRUS has wreaked a “terrible toll” on Islington care homes, the Town Hall’s health chief has said, as the government begins counting deaths in care homes in its official figures for the number killed by the outbreak.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that 24 people have died in the borough’s care homes, 10 in a fortnight.

Labour councillor Janet Burgess, Islington Council’s social care chief, said: “At last the government has recognised the terrible toll Covid-19 has wreaked on care homes. Too many residents have had their lives cut short.”

The Tribune understands that at least one resident and two members of staff have died in the Highbury New Park care home while a “number of people” have died in Bridgeside Lodge care home in Angel – including Cllr Burgess’s husband, the former Islington councillor Wally Burgess.

Meanwhile, three residents have died in the Muriel Street Care Home in Barnsbury, it has been confirmed for the first time.

The government had faced criticism for only counting Covid-19 deaths in hospitals in the numbers given at a daily Downing Street press briefing.

“We need to recognise the wonderful care that care home staff have given to the residents and the emotional and physical effect on them,” Cllr Burgess added.

Figures also show that seven people have died at home in Islington due to coronavirus while 65 people have died in hospital, although the overall number at the Whittington, which serves at least three boroughs, is higher.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “This virus can sadly have a devastating effect on some of our most vulnerable people and our deepest sympathies go out to the families who have sadly lost relatives.

“From Wednesday we will publish daily figures on Covid-19 deaths across all settings including care homes, complementing nationwide ONS and CQC data on both all deaths in care homes and deaths where Covid-19 was suspected or confirmed.

“To further help control the spread of the virus within social care we have strengthened our advice around isolation for asymptomatic residents discharged into care homes and are using our increased testing capacity to test all symptomatic care home residents, care staff, and their families.”