A potential coronavirus "catastrophe" could be unfolding in care homes across the United Kingdom, after the British Government revealed there have been COVID-19 outbreaks in 2,000 facilities.

Key points: The UK Government says coronavirus has been found in 18 per cent of aged care facilities

The UK Government says coronavirus has been found in 18 per cent of aged care facilities One study estimates that 40 per cent of cases in Europe could be coming from care homes

One study estimates that 40 per cent of cases in Europe could be coming from care homes The Government says it's only including hospital deaths in daily tolls for accuracy

Eileen Chubb, a former care worker who now runs the advocacy group Compassion in Care, has told the ABC she has been inundated with calls from "frightened" staff and has warned of an "absolute catastrophe".

"What's happening is that care homes have been told not to admit residents from the care home to a hospital if they become ill from COVID-19," she said.

"They're residential care homes, so they can't treat people, so what you basically have is a policy of just letting people die."

The number of aged care homes with outbreaks make up roughly 18 per cent of all facilities in England and Wales.

Care deaths not counted in daily tally

On April 15, the UK's Department of Health announced a further 761 people died in the previous 24-hour reporting period, taking the British death toll close to 13,000.

At least six residents at the Our Lady's Home aged care facility in Belfast have died after a COVID-19 outbreak in the building. ( Reuters: Jason Cairnduff )

But that figure only took into account those who had died in hospitals and did not include deaths in care homes or the wider community.

Britain's Work and Pensions Secretary, Therese Coffey, told the BBC the daily figure released by the Health Department was based on hospital deaths because "it's accurate and quick".

Ms Chubb said she feared the real death toll may never be known and that "the elderly are being denied human rights".

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"They're being denied the right to life, and we always knew people that were vulnerable and had no voice would be the first casualty," she said.

"And to be honest, every time I come off the phone I cry, because that's how bad it is."

More than 40pc of deaths might come from care homes

Government statistics show at the end of the week ending April 3, 217 residents of care homes died of COVID-19.

The real figure is expected to be far higher than that.

The head of Four Seasons Health Care, one of the UK's largest independent providers of care homes, said he believed the rate of infections and suspected infections across care homes was up to 70 per cent.

"I think the number is probably up at 60 or 70 per cent," chief executive Jeremy Richardson told Sky News.

"We're running at a similar number - I think the numbers are substantially underestimated."

The figures prompted charity Age UK to claim coronavirus was "running wild" in care homes for elderly people.

"The current figures are airbrushing older people out like they don't matter," Age UK director Caroline Abrahams said.

It is a grim picture being replicated across Europe.

A report by the London School of Economics, relying upon data from five major European nations, suggests more than 40 per cent of all deaths relating to COVID-19 come from care homes.

In late March, the Spanish Defence Ministry said its soldiers discovered abandoned residents — who in some cases were dead — in nursing homes across the country.

In France, authorities said more than 1,000 people in nursing and care homes had died from the coronavirus.

UK Government promises to test residents and staff

Reacting to the criticism, UK Health Minister Matt Hancock announced on Wednesday all residents and staff in care homes who had coronavirus symptoms would be tested.

Currently, the UK tests only the first five residents who have symptoms.

Mr Hancock said that would be expanded when capacity in testing laboratories was boosted.

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"Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus, and as part of our plan to prevent the spread and save lives we will ensure that everyone in social care who needs a test can have a test," he said.

Mr Hancock, who himself had recovered after testing positive for coronavirus, also announced new proposals that would allow family members to be with gravely ill relatives in care homes so they could "say goodbye".

Many care homes had been preventing relatives from coming into them for fear of the virus spreading, but Mr Hancock said this would be changed so it could occur "wherever possible".

"Done right, it can help those left behind to cope and it brings comfort to those who are dying," Mr Hancock said.

"Coronavirus, of course, has made this much more difficult, and I've been really moved and upset by some of the heartbreaking stories of people dying without a loved one nearby."

"So I'm pleased to say that working with Public Health England, the care sector and many others, we're introducing procedures so we can limit the risk of infection while, wherever possible, giving people's closest loved ones the chance to say goodbye."