Coronavirus has killed one in 20 care home residents in London, the worst rate in England.
Office For National Statistics data revealed 4.7 deaths per 100 care home beds in the capital.
In the North, the second worst hit region, there have been 3.2 fatalities per 100 care beds.
In the East Midlands the rate is 2. In the South West and East of England, it’s 1.8.
The Health Foundation attacked the Government for doing too little to protect homes.
The charity’s senior data analyst Fiona Grimm added: “Care homes strategy stands in contrast to its approach to the NHS which has seen a more timely response to coronavirus.
“The emergency social care now faces is also related to well-known failings in the sector, including years of inadequate funding that is putting many care providers at risk of collapse, and staff shortages linked to poor pay and conditions.
"Questions should be asked as to how many deaths could have been prevented had action been earlier.
“Mortality data suggests a Government ‘action plan’ for social care, has come too late to stem avoidable loss of life.
“Information we have highlights the urgent need to ensure care homes have access to adequate PPE and testing.”
She said the sector also needs to improve collection of data, “so decision makers have the information they need to effectively tackle the virus.”
The Sunday People first highlighted the terrible plight of residents and staff in care homes on April 5.
