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At the start of the pandemic, the then-health secretary in England, Matt Hancock, said the UK government had placed “a protective ring” around care homes.<\/p>\n
But the inquiry says this was not the case, listing a catalogue of failings.<\/p>\n
It says the care sector appeared to be “something of an afterthought”.<\/p>\n
A lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) meant staff had to resort to makeshift workarounds, including bin bags, festival waterproof ponchos and painters’ overalls.<\/p>\n
The report is also critical of the way hospital patients who may be infected with Covid were moved to care homes to make space for others.<\/p>\n
The decision was understandable given the need to free up beds for Covid patients. <\/p>\n
But, without sufficient testing, it was important to keep these people separate and isolate them from others in case they were infected.<\/p>\n
Official guidance in March 2020 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland did not request this. That, the report says, was a significant oversight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n