WHO says 'up to half' of COVID-19 deaths are care home residents

Residents of care facilities may account for nearly half of the coronavirus deaths recorded in Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday.

"According to estimates from countries in the European Region, up to half of those who have died from COVID-19 were residents in long-term care facilities," WHO European director Hans Kluge said at a press conference on Thursday, calling it "an unimaginable human tragedy."

Kluge said health workers in such facilities were often overworked and underpaid and the way these facilities operate, and how residents receive care – is providing pathways for the virus to spread.

Almost 50 percent of the global burden of COVID-19 cases - over 1.2 million – are recorded in the European region and over 110,000 people have lost their lives.

Noting on stabilizing or decreasing in some European countries in recent days, Klugeurged caution. "We remain in very turbulent water and will do so for some time."