Dr. David Nabarro:

Protecting people in residential care, particularly older people, is proving to be a significant challenge for the reasons set out by the Deputy. They are at particular risk. It is often difficult to maintain physical distancing and other requirements in the conditions under which they are being cared for. They need care that is up close and very personal. It is a significant challenge for the staff working in these places. It is my view and that of the World Health Organization, WHO, that a key part of this is to ensure the staff know their status with regard to Covid. That means virus testing quite frequently, perhaps at weekly intervals or even more often if there is a concern. At the same time, we must recognise that staff working in residential care are often not the best paid of people and that this area was not necessarily front and centre of Government policy. I hope that those responsible for providing care in the public or private sector are looking at a package of measures including not just testing, but also the physical conditions inside the home and the way in which dialogue takes place between staff and management such that if staff are feeling unwell and suspect they may have Covid, there is no penalisation for taking time off. That necessitates a significant amount of trust between managers and staff, as well as regular dialogue. Taking a comprehensive approach, to include frequent testing and paying real attention to what is happening inside these facilities, will help to reduce the risk and maintain the health of the residents.