Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that care home (a) residents and (b) staff members can be tested regularly for covid-19.

Following an initial round of whole home testing, on 3 July we began rolling out regular retesting to care homes. We initially rolled out retesting for over 65s and those caring for people with dementia. All other adult care homes are now eligible to register for test kits using the online portal and distribution to these homes began on 7 September.

Care home staff are offered weekly testing, while residents receive a test every 28 days.