Matt Hancock insists coronavirus in care homes is ‘coming under control’ as he unveils a new task force to cut infects and expands testing to working age residents as well as the elderly
- Health Secretary said working age care home patients now eligible for testing
- He also unveiled a new Covid-19 social care support taskforce to cut infections
- Said service would ‘benefit residents and staff in over 6,000 more care homes’
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Matt Hancock insisted that coronavirus epidemic that has cut a swathe through care homes is ‘coming under control’ today as he announced an extension of the testing regime.
The Health Secretary revealed that working age patients in care homes would be eligible for testing under extension of the scheme that is in place for the elderly.
Speaking at tonight’s Downing Street press conference he also unveiled a new Covid-19 social care support taskforce under the leadership of David Pearson.
‘We’ve now sent over a million test kits to almost 9,000 elderly care homes and the care homes themselves asked that they have the flexibility to do the test when it works for them,’ Mr Hancock said:
‘The good news is that the test results so far do not show a significant rise in the number of positive cases despite going through and testing all of the residents and staff.
‘We will now make sure that we do all of this in working age care homes as well.
The Health Secretary revealed that working age patients in care homes would be eligible for testing under extension of the scheme that is in place for the elderly.
Speaking at tonight’s Downing Street press conference he also unveiled a new Covid-19 social care support taskforce under the leadership of David Pearson (above)
‘I can announce that from today all remaining adult care homes in England will be able to order the whole care home testing service for residents and staff.
‘This service will benefit residents and staff in over 6,000 more care homes.’
Asked if it was safe for people to send their loved ones into care homes, he added: ‘With all of the measures that we’ve put in place over the past few months, all of the billions of pounds extra that we’ve put in, it’s clear that the epidemic in care homes is coming under control.
‘Even those care homes where there are cases have very strong infection control procedures in place.
‘In fact, if you look at the proportion of people in the UK who have sadly died in care homes, it is significantly lower than in comparable countries across Europe.’
Mr Pearson, the NHS lead on coronavirus and social care for the NHS, who also took part in the press conference, added the the taskforce will focus on stopping infection.
‘The taskforce will bring together the concerted and determined actions of central and local government with care providers’ he said.
‘Our focus will be on stopping infection whilst trying to ensure the well-being of all people who receive care and support, whether they live in care homes or at home.
‘Social care has a crucial role to play in supporting the people who receive care and support and their carers, and our job is to harness our efforts as we go through the various phases of this pandemic and support social care in its crucial role.’
Matt Hancock said the Government was ready to take action in response to local outbreaks of the coronavirus.
Speaking at the daily No 10 briefing, he said the scientific advice remained that the R number was still below one in every part of the country.
‘If we see outbreaks in a particular area, then we will take local action,’ he said.
‘This will mean, for instance, action in particular hospitals or particular care homes to make sure there is control of those outbreaks.
‘Where there are individual flare-ups and outbreaks, then we will take action.’