Government rejected radical lockdown of England’s care homes

Exclusive: health officials put forward plan last month to stem soaring coronavirus deaths

• Coronavirus – latest updates
• See all our coronavirus coverage

Public health officials proposed a radical lockdown of care homes last month to stem surging coronavirus deaths, including staff moving in for four weeks and deploying NHS Nightingale hospitals – but it was rejected by the government, the Guardian has learned.

An 11-point plan proposing “a further lockdown of care homes” was submitted to Downing Street on 28 April by officials at Public Health England (PHE), as fatalities peaked in care homes and the virus spread to half of homes in the worst-affected areas.

Continue reading…