Covid-19: Shock at Health Welsh Minister’s refusal to expand Coronavirus testing for all care home residents

Janet Finch-Saunders, the Shadow Social Minister, has reacted with shock at the announcement today (April 29) that the Minster for Health has refused to expand Covid-19 (Coronavirus) testing for all residents of care homes.

Just last week, Mrs Finch-Saunders called for the mandatory testing. The UK Government yesterday pledged to introduce testing for all residents of care homes, but the Minister today said on BBC Radio Wales he had been given advice that testing everyone in the sector was not the best use of resources.

Mrs Finch-Saunders said:

“This is absolutely staggering. We don’t know the prevalence of infection in care homes and the proportion of residents affected, nor the issue of staff working in close quarters to people who are potentially highly infectious. 

“It’s absolutely vital that we determine the true risk to residents and staff of our care homes. The Welsh Government should act to do all it can to help stop a further escalation of the human tragedy being experienced in care homes.”