Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes following the release of hospital patients to those care homes.

The safety of residents and staff is a priority. We announced in our Adult Social Care Action Plan, on 15 April 2020, that testing will be provided to all care home residents before they are discharged from hospital into a care home. A copy of the Plan is attached. On 28 April, the Government announced that testing would be expanded in the care sector to include both symptomatic and asymptomatic care home staff and residents. Testing asymptomatic workers and residents will help prevent and control outbreaks.