Ventilation concern in care homes

TEMPERATURE and ventilation in care homes may have been a factor in the spread of coronavirus, experts say.

The transfer of patients from hospitals to care homes and a lack of testing have been cited as reasons for the spread of the virus.

But a report suggests temperature and ventilation may also have played a role.

It said: “Better design could have absolutely helped to minimise the spread of the virus in care facilities.”

Report contributor Dr Alison Dawson, co- lead of the Dementia and Ageing Research Group at Stirling University, said care homes tend to be kept warmer, but that temperature in relation to the spreading of the virus needed to be considered.

Dr Dawson said: “We need to look specifically at care homes and consider do we need a higher rate of refreshment of air and how we do that safely.”