Health Secretary Matt Hancock has today promised that all care homes will be able to receive visitors by Christmas, with one nominated relative per resident to receive regular testing either in their own home or at the care home.
A pilot involving 20 residential care homes is set to take place in Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire, these counties chosen because their infection rates are relatively low.
Meanwhile, Liskeard Councillor and Cornwall cabinet member for Public Health Sally Hawken has said that while access to tests has improved in the county, care home staff “absolutely have to have their tests turned around quickly” - in some cases it is still taking several days to receive results, she said.