35 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in South Tyneside care homes as new figures reveal almost 400 North East care home deaths

New figures from Office of National Statistics show a total of 370 people who died in homes across the region tested positive for the virus.

Across England, a total of 6,391 Covid-19-related deaths have been recorded in care homes between April 10 and May 1.

County Durham has the most in the region, with 120 confirmed fatalities, followed by Sunderland with 54, and Northumberland with 46.

Stockton has the lowest number, with just 10 confirmed fatalities, followed by Redcar and Cleveland with 14 and Hartlepool with 20.

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The news comes as the latest figures from NHS England show a total of 1,115 people who have died in hospitals across the North East tested positive for coronavirus.

Ministers had been criticised for excluding care home deaths from the national figures on Covid-19 fatalities.

And operators had raised concerns about failure to test patients who were being returned to homes from hospital for infection before releasing them back into the community.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said last month that the Government was launching a new action plan to tackle the spread of the virus in care homes, with a testing regime for patients due to be released from hospital and increased supplies of personal protective equipment for care home staff, as well as easing the lockdown restrictions which had denied families the opportunity to say their last goodbye to loved ones.

Care home group Barchester Healthcare, which has homes in South Tyneside, Washington, Northumberland and County Durham, last month estimated half of its homes were affected by either suspected or positive tested clients.

The group reassured families it was doing everything it could to keep residents, patients and staff are as safe as possible.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics on Tuesday, May 5 show there were 370 coronavirus-related deaths in North East care homes between April 10 and May 1. The breakdown is as follows:

County Durham 120

Darlington 32

Gateshead 47

Hartlepool 20

Middlesbrough 30

Newcastle 38

North Tyneside 24

Northumberland 46

Redcar and Cleveland 14

South Tyneside 35

Sunderland 54

Stockton 10

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