Covid-19 testing rolled out to all care homes in England

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No deaths relating to Covid-19 have been recorded in care homes since 26 May

Covid-19 testing is now available to every care home in England for over-65s and those with dementia.

Since the launch of whole care home testing, the over 1 million test kits have been sent to nearly 9,000 care homes, and the system is now able to send out over 50,000 test kits a day.

The latest ONS figures on coronavirus deaths show that locally, in the Rochdale borough, no deaths relating to Covid-19 have been recorded in care homes since 26 May (according to data up to and including 5 June).

Care home providers can use an online portal to order tests for their residents or staff regardless of symptoms. All care homes are being contacted to highlight this service and encourage tests to be ordered.

Testing asymptomatic workers helps prevent and control outbreaks. It means those who test positive can be isolated, reducing the number of people who can spread the virus and protecting the most vulnerable. It also helps to build up a strategic understanding of the prevalence of the virus in local areas and the sector as a whole.  

Test results for residents will be communicated to the care home managers.

Responding, Andrea Fallon, Rochdale Council’s director of Public Health, said: “We are continuing to work closely with the care home sector, to support them on infection control measures and helping with access to Covid-19 testing options for residents and staff.

“We also work with them on ensuring supplies of Personal Protective Equipment. We took strong, proactive and robust action from day one of the crisis, to support our local care sector. This has included: supplies of PPE, regular briefings, visits and support from our infection control and quality assurance teams and have provided upfront cash payments to help.

“Our work to support care homes across the borough is ongoing and is a priority area for us.”

The government has announced this week that a new taskforce has been set up with representatives from across government and the care sector to continue providing support for the sector and to tackle the further spread of the virus in social care.

The new taskforce will help oversee the implementation of the government’s social care action plan and care home support package to help end transmission in the community and advise on a plan to support the sector through the next year.

Former president of ADASS and Director of Adult Social Care of DHSC, David Pearson has been appointed independent Chair of the Social Care Sector Covid-19 support taskforce which will oversee delivery of infection control measures as set out by the care home support package, backed by £600 million from the government, delivery of testing programmes and effective deployment of the workforce.

It is made up of representatives from PHE, CQC, Care Providers Alliance LGA, ADASS, Healthwatch England, MHCLG, Cabinet Office and DHSC.