Hospitalisation and mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic has been concentrated in older adults, with devastating outbreaks occurring in care home settings.
There is heightened awareness of care homes as settings with increased COVID-19 risk, but until now, we can all breathe a sigh of relief as health officials in west Cheshire have welcomed the news that care homes across the borough are now free from Covid-19 infections.
However, with the welcome news comes the message for everyone to remain vigilant and prevent the virus from returning. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, health and social care officers with Cheshire West and Chester Council have been working alongside NHS partners to support the borough’s care homes.
Recent weeks have seen the partners working to support the mass rollout of vaccinations to care home residents and staff across the borough. Figures reveal that 99 percent of care home residents in the borough have now been vaccinated. Most recently, the Council and its partners have supported the re-introduction of visits from a single loved one as lockdown eases.
Now, infection prevention and control experts with the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust have revealed that there are no current outbreaks in the borough’s care homes.
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Director of Public Health, Ian Ashworth, said:
“This is really positive news for our borough and a testament to the hard work that has been carried out throughout the pandemic to keep our care home residents safe.
“It will undoubtedly bring comfort to the families of those residents in the borough’s care homes.”
“Throughout the pandemic, we have worked alongside our NHS partners to support our residents. This good news is due in no small part to the commitment, dedication, and professionalism of everyone who works in care homes in our borough. Their devotion to the people in their care and their willingness to go the extra mile means that some of the most vulnerable people in our borough are now safer. We would like to thank everyone for their efforts.”
Mr. Ashworth added: “As welcome as this news is, it is no cause for complacency. We have seen in the past how persistent Covid-19 can be. We cannot afford to risk undoing all this good work and we must continue to do all we can to prevent the further spread of the virus. ”
According to council health officials, care homes will require ongoing intense vigilance to control outbreaks, and those visiting a care home resident must continue to follow all infection prevention and control measures, including having a lateral flow test beforehand, wear PPE and avoid close contact.
For more information and updates on coronavirus in Cheshire West, visit: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
