The number of people who died and were not found for weeks rose sharply during the pandemic, a study has found.

Post-mortems on ‘markedly decomposed’ bodies in the UK increased by 70 per cent during the pandemic.

Researchers compared data from the 12 months before and after the implementation of the first national lockdown on March 23 2020.

Every severely decomposed body found at home was someone who live alone, the study by Imperial College’s Healthcare Trust has said in their paper.

The findings, published in the Clinical Pathology journal, said that the rise meant tha tmany loved ones were left without substantive answers over causes of death – including potential genetic diseases.

The Imperial College Healthcare Trust said that the samples showed a 70 per cent rise in bodies getting post-mortems showing signs of decomposition

The Imperial College Healthcare Trust said that the samples showed a 70 per cent rise in bodies getting post-mortems showing signs of decomposition

The Imperial College Healthcare Trust said that the samples showed a 70 per cent rise in bodies getting post-mortems showing signs of decomposition

The study found that 29 of the 104 post-mortems analysed between March 2020 and March 2021 showed marked decomposition (27.9 per cent).

Of the 159 post-mortems between March 2019 and March 2020 which were examined, only 26 showed this decomposition (16.4 per cent).

Covid restrictions imposed for the first time in March 2020 meant that household mixing was significantly reduced.

The study also found that 38 per cent more deaths in the 2020/21 sample were from home, reflecting the ‘stay at home’ restrictions which were in places for months during the year.

Co-author of the study, Dr Theodore Estrin-Serlui told The Telegraph: ‘This excess in severe decomposition following death is generally a sign of the body not being found for a long time, in excess of at least a week.’ 

The study showed that 38 per cent more deaths took place at home than before the pandemic

The study showed that 38 per cent more deaths took place at home than before the pandemic

The study showed that 38 per cent more deaths took place at home than before the pandemic

Bodies being unfound for weeks can prevent families and loved ones from getting much-needed answers about how the person died

Bodies being unfound for weeks can prevent families and loved ones from getting much-needed answers about how the person died

Bodies being unfound for weeks can prevent families and loved ones from getting much-needed answers about how the person died

Dr Sam Royston, director of policy and research at Marie Curie, told the Telegraph: ‘The pandemic has been a stress test for how well our health and care system works for people dying at home.

‘And this data clearly shows a system failing people when they are most in need.’

 A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman sent condolences to those affected by the loss.

They added: ‘We are incredibly grateful to NHS staff, including district and community nurses and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to deliver palliative and end-of-life care to people at the most difficult time of their lives’. 

Source: Daily Mail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
Things To Know About Balthazar Getty

Things To Know About Balthazar Getty

Paul Balthazar Getty is an American actor and musician who is Popularly…

Are Albert Kropp And Tjaden Stackfleet Based On Real WW1 Soldiers?

“All Quiet on the Western Front,” a show on Netflix, is about…

Kenneth Kelly Will get Probation, Residence Detention for Jan. 6

The Florida physician who misplaced his marriage, job, and residential after he…

Shilpi Neha Tirkey Height, Weight, Net Worth, Age, Birthday, Wikipedia, Who, Nationality, Biography

Shilpi Neha Tirkey is an Indian government official known for her enthusiastic…