Health Secretary Matt Hancock has revealed plans to have COVID-19 testing systems available in “every care home by Christmas” to allow people to visit their loved ones.
Mr Hancock made the announcement in an appearance live on BBC Breakfast this morning.
He insisted that it is “the goal” to enable visitors at care homes over the festive period, and that the government is “working closely with the social care sector to try to make that happen”.
It comes after the UK government announced a “regular testing” pilot, which launches at 20 care homes today.
Regular testing will be offered to one family member or friend per resident, which – when combined with other infection-control measures such as PPE – will support “meaningful visits”, and these will enable, where possible, indoor visits without a screen to take place while reducing the risk to care home residents, staff and visitors.
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Visitors will be offered either PCR tests which they can do at home, or the new 30-minute rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs), which can be administered in person at care homes before a visit.
According to the government, the pilot – which forms part of plans to roll out mass testing technology across the country – has been made possible thanks to a huge expansion in the country’s testing capacity, which currently stands at over 500,000 per day.
It will take place in local authorities with lower transmission rates and is today being launched in certain areas of Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall.
This is to ensure it can be done as safely as possible and care staff are being trained to ensure tests are administered safely and accurately, and it will also further develop “the evidence base for how testing with fast, reliable COVID-19 tests can be delivered at scale”.
If successful, care home testing will be rolled out in a phased way across the country.
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Speaking on the announcement of the testing pilot roll-out via a statement on the gov.uk website this past weekend, Mr Hancock added: “I know how heart-breaking restricting visits to care homes has been, not only for residents, many of whom will feel disoriented and confused by the situation, but also their loved ones who aren’t able to simply hug each other to support them in this difficult time.
“Thanks to the expanding testing capacity, we have in place we can now begin to trial a new way to allow safer visits to take place and prevent the spread of COVID-19 [but] I must stress this is only possible if the public takes the right actions now to bring the transmission rate under control while national restrictions are in place.
“By respecting social distancing and staying at home as much as possible we will help reunite families and friends with loved ones in care homes as quickly as possible.”
It is anticipated the LFTs will be used across the country to support rapid access, and if these faster tests work in this setting, the government we will “ring-fence supply to open up more chances for visiting”.
Exact details of the national roll-out will be published in due course and will be guided by the pilot.
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You can find more information on the pilot testing scheme here.
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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.
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Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
Police appeal after man seriously injured in Northern Quarter stabbing
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester Police are appealing for witnesses after a stabbing in the Northern Quarter left a man seriously injured.
The incident occurred around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, on Tib Street near Market Street and Piccadilly Gardens.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene and the victim, a man in his 20s, taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Thankfully his injuries aren’t believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
No arrests have yet been made and officers are now appealing for witnesses to assist with enquiries.
DI Geoffrey Machent, of the City of Manchester Division, said: “At around 7.45pm on Thursday 20 March, we were called to reports of a stabbing on Tib Street.
“A man was subsequently taken to hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening or life-changing. He remains there for treatment.
“At this time, we do not believe the incident presents any threat to the wider public or local businesses operating in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers will be deployed to provide reassurance in the locality over the coming days, including our newly formed Piccadilly Gardens team.
“We would like to appeal to the public for any information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, to please come forward.”
If anyone has information regarding this stabbing in the Northern Quarter, contact police by calling 101, or via the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Always dial 999 in an emergency.
The Manc -
16th November 2020 
