David Pearson and Matt Hancock answers questions at daily coronavirus press conference

The transcript discusses the challenges faced by care homes during the pandemic, including lack of support, PPE, and testing. It highlights the efforts made at local levels to support care homes through resilience plans and ongoing dialogue. The importance of understanding asymptomatic infections and ensuring proper testing is emphasized. Training staff in infection prevention and providing resources from infection control funds are crucial. The transcript concludes with the need for comprehensive measures to combat the virus consistently across the country.

What were some of the initial challenges faced by care homes during the pandemic?

• Lack of PPE and testing

• Overstaffing issues

• Excessive government support

• Too many visitors

What is the purpose of care home resilience plans?

• To increase visitor numbers

• To eliminate testing procedures

• To reduce the number of staff

• To ensure care homes receive necessary support

How is international evidence used in supporting care homes?

• To eliminate PPE usage

• To reduce funding

• To understand asymptomatic infections

• To increase the number of residents

What is a key component of the comprehensive measures for care home safety?

• Reducing staff training

• Increasing visitor hours

• Eliminating safety protocols

• Training staff in infection prevention

What is the role of the infection prevention control funds?

• To support workforce costs

• To increase resident fees

• To reduce staff numbers

• To eliminate testing