Council to advise care homes to stop visits to prevent Covid spread

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CARE home bosses will be advised to suspend visitors as part of a new, local six-step plan to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The action plan has been launched by Gloucestershire County Council as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.

The authority said its director of public health, Sarah Scott, will write to all care homes advising them to suspend visiting.

It said: “We will work with care homes to make sure there are other, safe ways, for residents and their loved ones to stay in touch, with exceptions for those who sadly have to say goodbye.”

Also included in the plan is the deployment of a compliance officer for each district to help residents understand and follow the guidance.

Gloucestershire was handed £300,000 of a £2.2million government grant to fund the new officers earlier this month.

The county council said the plan will support the Government’s new threetier system. All of Gloucestershire’s districts are currently in Tier One.

Residents who needed to shield from the virus earlier this year will also be asked by the authority to reduce their social contact.

The six steps are: increased enforcement; welfare checks; suspend care home visits; Covid-19 protection representatives (nationally referred to as Covid-19 marshals); letter to those in shielding group to remind and reassure; Do it yourselves. Do it for each other.

Ms Scott said: “We recognise that some of these steps will be difficult for our community, especially where it affects people being able to be with loved ones, but they are crucial to minimise the risk of Covid-19 in our community.

“It is especially important as we head into the winter months, where demand for health and social care services is at its highest.”