Up to eight dead after Covid outbreak at Marnel Lodge

This is the second known outbreak of the virus to be recorded in a Basingstoke care home in the past month. 

It is understood up to eight people living at Marnel Lodge have died after contracting the disease.

The privately-ran home declared an outbreak on January 10 after a “number of cases and deaths” were reported to Public Health England.

Marnel Lodge in Popley

PHE said it is unable to confirm the exact number of residents who have died at the home.

The home, in Carter Drive, was among the first to receive the vaccine, with doctors from The Chineham Medical Practice visiting on New Year’s Day to administer it.

The government advises that you cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine but it is possible to have caught Covid-19 and not realise you have the symptoms until after your vaccination appointment.

It may take a week or two to build up some protection from the first dose of vaccine.

It comes after this newspaper reported last week how 22 residents at Pemberley House Care Home in Viables had passed away.

New figures show the number of Covid deaths in care homes are at their highest levels since the end of April 2020 – at the peak of the first wave.

There were 2,364 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the week ending January 22 in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Separate Care Quality Commission data shows it was notified of 2,357 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 in the week ending January 29.

A spokesperson for Barchester Healthcare, which runs Marnel Lodge, said: “We can confirm that we have had individuals confirmed with Covid-19 at Marnel Lodge, and very sadly some of those have passed away. We are deeply saddened by these losses and we send our condolences to all family and friends affected. We have done everything possible to contain this virulent virus and we are very grateful to our residents, their families and friends for their support.

"Our highly trained support teams within Barchester have been working with the team in Marnel Lodge as an extra level of assistance in the fight against Covid-19. The team at the home continues to put their all into caring for our residents and the situation is improving as each day passes, with some residents due to end their isolation this week and 98% of our residents having now had at least the first part of the Covid-19 vaccine.”