CORONAVIRUS deaths in care homes across North Wales have increased, according to latest figures.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that the number of deaths registered due to Covid-19 by April 17 has risen to 17, which is an increase from the previous week.

These deaths now include two in Flintshire and three in Wrexham as well as eight in Gwynedd, one in Conwy and three in Denbighshire.

Anglesey did not report any deaths in care homes.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said the newly-published figures from the Office of Nationals Statistics (ONS)were an indictment of the failure to lock down earlier and harder.

He said: "The information from the Office of Nationals Statistics has unfortunately confirmed what we have been warning about since February.

"The inadequacy in the policy to tackle the coronavirus crisis and the failure to lock down earlier and harder are now taking their tragic toll."