ALL elderly care home residents and staff finally tested for coronavirus by start of June, Matt Hancock announces

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ALL elderly care home residents and staff will finally be tested for coronavirus by the start of June, Matt Hancock has announced.

The Health Secretary revealed a £600million fresh package of help for struggling care homes who aren’t able to control the spread of the virus at tonight’s press conference.

Matt Hancock said today everyone in an elderly care home will get tested in the next few weeks

Previously only people who needed one would get one – that included people with or without symptoms.

Covid-19 has had a devastating impact in care homes bringing the grim tally to 12,526.

And today the Governent published the latest R number – rate of transmission – saying it was between 0.7 and 1.

However, the figures do have a two to three week lag, officials admitted.

It’s thought that the majority of transmission of cases are now in hospitals in care homes, but the rate for the community is far, far lower.

The cash will help to make sure that members of staff only work in one care home at a time, and don’t travel between them.

It will also appoint a clinical lead in every care home, and give them access to NHS PPE training, he said.

Care workers will get mental health support with a workforce app – designed with Hospice UK and Samaritans.

The Fund, which is ring fenced for social care, will be given to local authorities to ensure care homes can stop the the spread of coronavirus.

And the extra cash will pay the wages of anyone who is self-isolating.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said earlier: “We’ll test every resident and every member of staff in our elderly care homes between now and early June.

“This £600 million Infection Control Fund will help as we continue to reduce infections in care homes and save lives.

“From the very start of this outbreak, we have been working to protect our brilliant social care workforce and the most vulnerable in our society.

“Our package sets out clearly the extra steps local councils and care homes should be taking as we stamp out the spread of this virus.”

Today’s figures show more than 2,000 care home residents in the South East and 1,899 in the North West have died involving the killer bug – making it the hardest hit regions.

The North West also has one of the highest “R” infection rates in the country.

Covid-19 was the leading cause of the death for male care home residents, accounting for 30.3 per cent of deaths.

It was the second leading cause of death in female care home residents, after dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for 23.5 per cent of deaths.

The coronavirus pandemic has spread through care homes like wild fire

Those aged between 65 and 69 accounted for the highest proportion of deaths involving coronavirus in both male and female care home residents – 35.1 per cent and 30.3 per cent respectively.

There has been anger among care home operators, staff and relatives the government has underestimated the severity of the impact of the disease in care.

The Prime Minister has admitted he “bitterly regrets” the coronavirus epidemic that has spread like wild fire the country’s care homes.