Coronavirus: Government extends testing to all care home residents and staff in England

The health secretary has announced all care home residents and staff in England can now be tested for coronavirus 'whether they have symptoms or not'.

This announcement comes after new figures released from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) showed there were 4,343 COVID-19 deaths in care homes in England from 10 to 24 April.

’Of course care homes have been a top priority right from the start’

In the daily briefing, Mr Hancock said: “Building on successful pilots, we will be rolling out testing of all asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes in England.

"This will mean anyone who is working or living in a care home will be able to get access to a test whether they have symptoms or not."

He added: "I am determined to do everything I can to protect the vulnerable.”

There are now more than 40 drive-through testing sites across the country, and, by the end of the week, 25,000 home testing kits will be available for ordering every day, according to the government.

A network of mobile testing units is also travelling the country to reach care homes, police stations, prisons and other sites where there is demand for testing. The network is expected to reach over 70 units by the weekend.

At the briefing when asked if care homes are now a priority, the health secretary replied: “Of course care homes have been a top priority right from the start.

“We’ve strengthened the rules around what happens in care homes and tightened infection control, also making testing available throughout the care sector.

"I think it is incredibly important as we’ve ramped up the availability of testing.

“We keep a close eye on it and I’m very glad we are now able to publish this daily data that will keep the focus on what is happening in care homes."

He said daily death figures would now include "not just the number of deaths in hospital each day but the number of deaths in care homes and in the community too".

People over 65 showing symptoms of the virus can also be tested

In Scotland, the Scottish government show 354 adult care homes have reported more than one case of suspected COVID-19. There have been 1,616 registered COVID-19 deaths in Scotland as of 19 April and a third of these have been in care homes.

In Wales, the latest figures from the ONS show there have been a total of 184 COVID-19 deaths in Welsh care homes.

It was also announced in the briefing, people over 65 and those who must leave home to work, as well as those they live with, will be able to get tested if they have symptoms of the virus.

For more information regarding testing click here for the GOV.UK website