Welsh Government extends testing to all care homes but faces criticism from opposition over delay

The Welsh health minister has announced that coronavirus testing will be extended to all care home residents and staff, citing the latest scientific evidence.

Previously all residents and staff in care homes with confirmed cases of COVID-19 were tested.

But Vaughan Gething said that from this week every care homes in Wales will have access to testing.

Care homes who have not reported an outbreak or any cases of coronavirus will be able to use an online portal to order testing kits for their residents and staff.

The Welsh Government said the system would be rolled out shortly.

Mr Gething said: “How we tackle coronavirus continually changes as we receive more emerging evidence and scientific advice.

“We have been very clear in our approach that our strategy is about reducing harm first and we will adapt policies in order to do this.

“Today is a step change in how we will be testing in care homes, adapting our policy so that every resident and member of staff can be tested for coronavirus.

“I hope this brings further reassurance to those living and working in care homes and their families.”

However, two politicians from opposition parties have criticised the fact the move was not made sooner.

Conservative shadow minister for social care, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, said: “Care homes have some of society’s most vulnerable and for that reason I have been urging the Welsh Government for weeks to extend coronavirus testing to cover all care home residents and staff.

“As I said at the time, expanding the testing in care homes can reduce the spread of Covid-19 among our most vulnerable and incredible staff.

“It is about time that my calls have been answered by the Welsh Government, but it is shameful that the expansion could not have been implemented sooner given that capacity in testing is increasing.”

Plaid Cymru shadow minister for local government, Delyth Jewell MS, said: “This is a long awaited recognition of what we have consistently argued for.

“The tragic cases of Covid-19 in care homes and its prevalence within them should have been a wake-up call for the Welsh Government that testing everyone was a necessary life-saving step.

“The refusal to do so up to now should be the subject of examination in the future inquiry.

“While it is a welcome change of approach, ministers must now publish the advice which informed the previous policy of not testing in every care home and how it has now changed.”