Coronavirus has been linked to the deaths of at least 21 people in Barrow care homes since the start of the crisis – but figures suggest they have avoided further loss amid soaring positive case numbers.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) called for a ‘short, sharp lockdown’ to curb the spread of infection in care homes nationally, as fatalities in care homes across England and Wales rose for the fifth week in a row.

Office for National Statistics data shows that 83 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered in Barrow up to October 17. Of those, 27 occurred outside hospital – including 21 in care homes and six at private homes.

It means the area has managed to avoid any further care home deaths since July 18.

ONS figures also showed that Covid-19 was linked to the deaths of at least 68 people in South Lakeland care homes since the start of the crisis .

Figures revealed that 154 deaths involving Covid-19 were provisionally registered in South Lakeland up to October 17. Of those, 78 occurred outside hospital – including 68 in care homes and nine at private homes. A further death occurred in a hospice, another community establishment or elsewhere.

Mike Padgham, chairman of the ICG, said: “We are now starting to see more significant increases in the number of Covid-19 deaths in care and nursing homes and we have to act quickly.

“At the moment we have people travelling all over the place, from areas of high infection rate to low areas, so the virus is bound to spread and spread.”

A spokesman for Public Health England said: “Cumbria County Council, District Councils and Public Health England continue to work tirelessly to improve access to testing, carry out contact-tracing and respond to outbreaks in a variety of settings. Fortunately, since the first wave of the pandemic, where we saw a number of deaths, we have not yet seen anywhere near the same number despite an increase in cases.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of people following the restrictions for their local area.

“Everyone must continue to take simple actions like washing their hands, covering their faces and keeping their distance from other people.”