Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to make the wearing of personal protective equipment mandatory in care homes for (a) staff and (b) visitors.

The Government has published guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for care workers during the current period of sustained COVID-19 transmission which they are expected to follow. Providers should ensure that the appropriate PPE is always worn and used correctly. For visitors this is an appropriate form of protective face covering, which may include a surgical face mask where specific care needs align to close contact care. The Government is providing free PPE for adult social care providers for COVID-19 needs until March 2021.

Where care homes do not follow PPE guidance, or do something equally effective, the Health and Safety Executive and local authority Environmental Health Officers have a range of enforcement powers to ensure employers comply and workers have adequate PPE for their work activities.