Fears over extent of coronavirus in care homes

Pete Calveley, chief executive of Barchester Healthcare, said cases of coronavirus in care homes are ‘far more widespread than has previously been acknowledged’.

The company is caring for 663 residents with confirmed or suspected coronavirus in 118 care homes - half of its total homes.

But Mr Calveley said he was aware of ‘other care providers that are at 75 per cent’, adding that ‘testing and the availability of PPE are absolutely vital’.

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There have been 196 resident deaths in 75 homes - 1.5 per cent of all residents and around a third of the total homes, the provider said.

Mr Calveley said: “Changes from the social care action plan will take time to embed, and we look forward to seeing these measures flow through and empower the care sector to tackle the terrible virus that is Covid-19.

“It is far more widespread in care homes than has previously been acknowledged.”

Jeremy Richardson, chief executive of Four Seasons Healthcare Group, which has 191 homes, said it was difficult to give a precise figure due to the lack of testing.

He said: “However, we estimate that around 60 per cent of our homes have suspected Covid-19 cases, which is consistent with the figures that have been published by colleagues from other firms within the industry.

“As we have stated previously, we believe that the latest Government estimate, that 15 per cent of care homes are reporting Covid-19 symptoms, materially understates the true position.”

The group estimated on Wednesday that it has seen around 100 deaths from confirmed and unconfirmed cases.

Methodist Homes has had 251 deaths, including at least two staff, across 50 per cent of its 222 homes and schemes.

But only 57 of these were tested and confirmed as Covid-19, it said.

Earlier today, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said 15 per cent of care homes are dealing with two or more cases of coronavirus.