Covid outbreaks in care homes have trebled in a month to levels not seen since the spring 2020 peak of the pandemic, according to Public Health England (PHE).
PHE’s Weekly National Influenza & Covid-19 Report found 977 outbreaks of respiratory conditions in English care homes between 4-10 January, of which 739 were confirmed as coronavirus.
That compares with 305 outbreaks in the week ending December 17, with 227 confirmed as Covid-19.
The latest data is the second highest weekly total since records began in April.
The figures come after it emerged that hospitals are again planning to discharge patients into care homes without a negative Covid test.
PHE meanwhile said 34.6 per cent, or 1,036,605, of people aged 80 and over in England have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as of 10 January.
GPs were instructed earlier this week to give a first dose to all care home residents by 24 January at the latest.
