A disturbing report out of the UK.
Doctors have certified the deaths of 700 people who lived at home in London, with or without relatives, during the pandemic with coronavirus confirmed as the cause of death, combined with underlying poor health, in many cases, The Guardian reports.
“People have lain undiscovered during the pandemic for seven to 14 days,” Dr Mike Osborn, a senior pathologist in London and the chair of the death investigation committee at the Royal College of Pathologists, said.
In some cases, the body was only discovered after neighbours reported a smell to police.
Another London pathologist said: “The ones I know about have all been older people – over-60s – who lived alone. They didn’t live with loved ones and seemingly didn’t have many relatives close by.”
“A few have been described by neighbours as ‘reclusive’ or ‘private’, things like that. Often, they were discovered by a neighbour or acquaintance who hasn’t heard from them for a while popping round, seeing no signs of life and phoning the ambulance or the police or both, who then make entry and find the deceased.”
Some deaths were also reported by family doctors who, being unable to contact the person, had asked the police to make a welfare check on them by calling round.
It is not known how many people have died alone at home and not been found, but all cases have been referred to the local coroner for inquests.
Doctors say the cases highlight the large numbers of isolated older people living on their own as well as the high volumes of people who have avoided hospitals and GP surgeries in recent months because of fears over the virus.
The head of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Martin Marshall, said his members are noticing an increase in people dying in the community, often at home and often due to conditions unrelated to COVID-19, such as cardiac arrest.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is also creating an epidemic of loneliness, not just for older people, and sadly there are some people who will fall through the net,” he said.
