The UK government has confirmed that family members who test negative for coronavirus (COVID-19) can visit care homes in England from today.
It will allow “care home residents to be reunited with families by Christmas”.
Care home residents in all tiers of the government’s “tougher” three tier system will be able to see their families again, with over a million tests due to be sent out providers over the next month and the first visits to begin in the homes today (Wednesday 2nd November).
In a statement published to the gov.uk website, the government states: “A significant increase in testing capacity, paired with new testing technology, will allow friends and family to visit relatives in care homes if they receive a negative result prior to the visit”, and adds that the move is set to enable care homes to “safely maintain a balance between infection control and the vital benefits of visiting to the health and wellbeing of residents”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the move was possible due to “unprecedented strides” in testing technology and capacity.
ADVERTISEMENT
Care home residents will be reunited with family by Christmas after a roll-out of rapid #COVID19 testing.
Over a million tests will be sent out to providers over the next month with visits to begin from Wednesday.
— Department of Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) December 1, 2020
Mr Hancock continued: “I know how difficult it has been for people in care homes and their families to be apart for so long.
“The separation has been painful but has protected residents and staff from this deadly virus, [so] I’m so pleased we are now able to help reunite families and more safely allow people to have meaningful contact with their loved ones by Christmas.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This news has been made possible by the unprecedented strides made in testing technology and capacity, as well as extra PPE supplies.”
In the new guidance for care home visits as published yesterday evening, the Department of Health and Social Care says the “default position” is now that visits should be enabled to go ahead in all tiers – unless there is an outbreak in the care home – and it has been confirmed that more than a million lateral flow tests have already been sent out to the 385 biggest care homes as the first tranche of a phased approach to make visits safer.
I know how difficult it has been for people in care homes & their families to be apart for so long.
I’m so pleased we're now able to help reunite families & more safely allow people to have meaningful contact with their loved ones by Christmas.https://t.co/oa1O6jM8a9
Each care home is responsible for setting the visiting policy in that home.
ADVERTISEMENT
Care homes will manage the number of visits that take place – which must be arranged in advance – with visitors urged to be mindful of the additional workload for the care home.
The Department of Health and Social Care adds that hand holding and hugging may be possible if other infection control measures are followed, but it stresses the importance of visitors wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect their loved ones.
An extra 46 million items of free PPE will be sent to CQC-registered care home providers through the government portal in addition to PPE already available.
Over 220 million items of PPE have been provided to adult care homes since April.
The number of tests kits being supplied has been modelled to allow up to two visitors per resident, visiting twice a week, but visitors will still be expected to follow infection prevention and control procedures, and should “minimise contact as much as possible” to reduce the risk of transmission.
ADVERTISEMENT
___
For the latest information, guidance and support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK, please do refer to official sources at gov.uk/coronavirus.
#HandsFaceSpace
News
Salford Red Devils granted another adjournment over unpaid debts
Danny Jones
Salford Red Devils have been given one more adjournment and yet another stay of execution, being given another two weeks to find the money to cover their unpaid debts.
The local rugby league side, which has been wrapped in all manner of struggles both on and off-pitch over the past year or so, reportedly needs to pay around £700,000 to HMRC alone and still owes roughly £5 million in total to various creditors.
To no surprise, regular matchgoers, neutrals and even rivals alike have expressed their continued disappointment with the club, mainly at the lack of transparency and clarity from the organisation throughout this long, drawn-out process.
This is coming from a wire fan but no club deserves to be left in the dark even longer than they already have done it’s nothing but a disgrace to the sport of rugby those owners and the court should be ashamed of themselves.
Updating fans on social media, this is all the information they have communicated at this time: “Salford Red Devils can confirm that HMRC have granted the club a two-week adjournment, providing additional time in which to secure the necessary funds.
“We would like to reassure supporters that we are working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a positive resolution. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.”
It’s worth noting that the current owners have reiterated that they inheited around £3m in existing debt before they took over the club, but assurances over their own investments have still come to nothing; meanwhile, with many still waiting on wages, players and staff alike have now left.
Having been propped up by loan players and emergency loans, the team is now closer to a skeleton crew than it is an outfit capable of competing in the premier division.
Either way, the outrage remains and is only growing stronger. One user wrote on X: “A good approach by them if they was legit would be to engage and bring in The 1873 to bridge the communication black hole (they created).
“The problem with that is if they did it would expose them for what they are… Extortionists using the club as a vehicle.”
More alarm bells were raised recently when assistant coach and Krisnan Inu – who was also director of the company set up to take over the business – withdrew himself from a key position behind the scenes.
Speaking of The 1873, the outspoken supporters trust took no time at all in issuing a response of their own, adding: “The judge presiding over today’s case has adjourned by 14 days. This adjournment has dragged the uncertainty on even longer.
“Every delay makes planning for 2026 harder and keeps the club stuck in limbo when it desperately needs clarity and direction.
“The fans, the players and the future all deserve better — The 1873.”
You can see the rest of their statement in full down below, but for now, what do you make of this seemingly neverending saga, Salfordians?
‘Christmas chaos’ on the cards as Manchester tram drivers vote on staging strike action next month
Emily Sergeant
There could be major disruption to festive travel in Greater Manchester next month, as hundreds of tram drivers are currently voting on whether to strike.
Almost 320 tram drivers are being balloted over working conditions and fears around fatigue.
The drivers – who are members of the union, Unite – all work for KeolisAmey Metrolink Limited at the Warwick Road South and Queens Road depots in Manchester – and they operate trams on all routes in Greater Manchester.
As it stands, the drivers’ shift patterns currently mean they have to work 450 hours over a 12-week period, which results in some having to work 50 hours on, followed by just two days off, then back into another 50-hour work pattern.
Drivers also have fewer rest days compared to all other operational departments, and this is said to be causing safety concerns around fatigue.
‘Christmas chaos’ is on the cards as Manchester tram drivers are currently voting on staging strike action next month / Credit: TfGM
Drivers say they concerned about operating heavy vehicles while exhausted and unable to have proper breaks, but after raising the issue with management, Unite has been told there is ‘no funding available’ to support any ‘meaningful’ improvements to working patterns.
Instead, management has asked drivers to start work earlier – which Unite says is only ‘adding insult to injury’.
The ballot is set to close on 11 November, and if drivers vote in favour of industrial action, strikes could then begin in late November, causing widespread cancellations and delays throughout the region during the busy festive shopping period – particularly coinciding with Manchester’s world-famous Christmas Markets, known for attracting millions of visitors to the city each year.
“Any strike action will cause a great deal of disruption but it is entirely the fault of Metrolink, which is not taking the issue of driver fatigue seriously,” commented Unite Regional Officer, Colin Hayden.
The Manc -
2nd December 2020 
