Coronavirus: Staff who move between care homes more likely to contract COVID-19

It has been revealed that staff who move between care homes are more likely to contract COVID-19 – as it emerged that almost 20,000 deaths of care home residents in England and Wales have involved the virus.

It was mentioned on the death certificate of 19,394 fatalities that happened between 2 March and 12 June, whether it was an underlying cause or not.

Of those, 16,305 (84%) were classified as “confirmed” COVID-19, while 3,089 (16%) were “suspected”, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The figures refer to the deaths of all care home residents, whether the fatality occurred inside a care home or in another setting, such as a hospital.

The ONS has also released the results from a study of more than 9,000 care homes, which found higher levels of coronavirus among temporary staff who work in multiple places.

Such a situation was also found to increase the number of infections among residents.

Another discovery was that care homes which give staff sick pay are likely to have fewer cases of COVID-19 among residents.

The study estimates that more than half (56%) of the care homes that participated reported at least one confirmed case of the disease.

Of those, 20% of residents and 7% of staff are estimated to have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, according to reports from care home managers.

Earlier, the government said that staff and residents in care homes in England will be regularly tested for coronavirus from next week.

Care home workers will be tested weekly, while residents will receive a test every 28 days, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

It has also promised intensive testing in any care home facing a coronavirus outbreak or an increased risk of a flare-up.

The programme will be rolled out from Monday to all care homes for people aged over 65, and those with dementia, which have registered to receive re-testing over the next four weeks.

It will then be expanded to the entire care home sector from August.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government’s response to the pandemic “has always been led by the latest scientific advice from world-class experts”.

“We will now offer repeat testing to staff and residents in care homes, starting with homes for elderly residents before expanding to the entire care home sector,” he added.

The government has faced criticism for failing to protect care homes from coronavirus.

A National Audit Office report in June claimed that around 25,000 hospital patients were discharged into care homes in England at the height of the pandemic without all being tested for COVID-19.

Research published last month revealed a third of care home residents had not been tested for COVID-19, despite government promises that all residents and staff would be tested by “early June”.

The research from The Data Analysis Bureau suggested that while testing had risen over that month, many residents were still missing out.

Meanwhile, Mr Hancock is facing legal action from the daughter of an 88-year-old man who died of suspected COVID-19 in a care home.

Dr Cathy Gardner is demanding the health secretary retract his claim that he placed a “protective ring” around care homes following the death of her father Michael Gibson.

The new testing strategy follows the latest advice from the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and new evidence indicating a higher prevalence in care homes, the DHSC said.

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The new repeat testing programme was welcomed by care sector leaders who said it was “essential” to support care homes managing the spread of infection.

Vic Rayner, executive director of National Care forum, added: “Access to repeat and regular testing is absolutely central to support care homes in managing the spread of infection within care homes.

“Testing has proved to be a vital tool in the box for providers and the continued expansion of the testing regime is essential.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Every death is a tragedy, and our deepest sympathies go out to everyone who have lost loved ones.

“We have been doing everything we can to ensure care home residents and staff are protected during this unprecedented global pandemic and the Vivaldi 1 study has proved invaluable as we further build on our understanding of this virus.

“We announced today that we will be rolling out repeat testing for care home staff and residents across the country from Monday, to help further reduce the spread of infection in care homes.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Staff who move between care homes more likely to contract COVID-19