Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Social Care, commenting on the Government announcing their intention to publish daily figures of deaths in care homes, and to extend testing to care staff and care recipients, said:

“We are glad that that the Government has said it will now publish daily death rates outside hospital, including in care homes. What’s measured is what counts, and for families and care workers struggling to cope with this awful virus, every death counts.

“It is also welcome that Ministers have now committed to testing all care users and staff. This must apply to those who receive care in their own homes and to domiciliary care staff as well as those in care homes.

“However, further action is urgently required to reduce the spread of the virus and keep care users and staff safe. More needs to be done to ensure all care staff get the PPE they need and to ensure social care is properly funded to deal with the extra costs of the pandemic. The Government must also introduce a strategy for intermediate care, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 by people who are discharged from hospital and help struggling care homes.”