Thread by @HughSykes

#Coronavirus
More than a quarter of deaths in #CareHomes have involved #COVID_19 - @ONS.
Thread >>
On its gov.uk website, on February 25th, the government published 'guidance for social or community care and residential settings on COVID-19.
1/8

Under the heading 'Guidance on Facemasks', it said:
"During normal day-to-day activities facemasks do not provide protection from respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19 & do not need to be worn by staff in any of these settings. 2/8

The next sentence of that is crucial: "It remains very unlikely that people receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected."
This guidance remained on the website for another seventeen days. 3/8

Asked about this by @Keir_Starmer in the House of Commons on May 15th, the prime minister @Borisjohnson said:
"It wasn’t true that the advice said that.” 4/8

On the @BBCR4today programme, cabinet minister Brandon Lewis said:
"It was disappointing to see Keir sort of quoting things out of context and playing a bit of politics." 5/8

The February 25th guidance also said:
"There is currently no transmission of COVID-19 in the community. It is therefore very unlikely that anyone receiving care in a care home or the community will become infected." 6/8

"We had clear guidance we were giving to care homes. " - Brandon Lewis:

"But it was wrong." - Presenter (@justinonWebb)

Brandon Lewis: "I don't agree with you on that." 7/8

From 2 March to 1 May , there were 45,899 registered deaths of care home residents; 12,526 of which involved the virus.
That's more than a quarter.

8/8