TWO residents have died at a Malvern care home following a coronavirus outbreak.

Blossom House care home owners Blossom Care are now working with Worcestershire County Council to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

A source has told us it was their belief the outbreak was as serious as the St Stephen’s Care Home outbreak, when five residents at the Worcester care home lost their lives last year. The source added they were now “very concerned”.

Dr Kathryn Cobain, director of Public Health for Worcestershire, said: “Sadly two residents at Blossom House care home in Malvern have now died, following an outbreak of Covid-19.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those who have passed away. Unfortunately, it is a real reminder to us all that Covid-19 remains in our communities.

“Currently 10 residents have tested positive and seven staff.

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“Outbreak management procedures are being followed, cases are isolating and visiting is restricted to essential visits only.

“Multi-agency support has been provided to the care home since the first positive cases were identified.

“Staff at the home are working hard to ensure residents are receiving the highest standards of care.

“They continue to prioritise the health and safety of all the residents and the staff.

“Care homes remain a key priority for our outbreak control plan in the county, they are a high risk setting, with vulnerable people and we know Covid-19 is highly infectious in such closed settings.”

The Avenue Road-based home is managed by Blossom Care, who also own Wishmoor care home, also in Avenue Road.

Paul Tuthill, a Malvern Link county councillor and chairman of the health overview and scrutiny committee, said he was not aware of the particular outbreak but said he was heartened that the vaccine was being rolled out in Malvern, and although sadly too late for this care home it should prevent further outbreaks.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show 25 people from Malvern have died in a care home of Covid-19, up to January 8. It should be noted they could have been living at any care home, not just in Malvern.

The ONS data shows during the course of the pandemic 250 people from the county have died of coronavirus in a care home setting.