Corona Virus
Northumberland care homes told to close to visitors from Monday after rise in Covid cases
Guidance has been issued to older persons care homes across Northumberland to suspend non-essential visitors from Monday (14 September 2020), to help protect vulnerable residents amid a rise in Covid-19 cases.
The move comes following concerns that infection could spread to older people, after the increase in the number of confirmed cases in recent weeks. In the week up to 4 September there have been 61 new cases of Covid in the county; this compares to 26 for the previous week and 52 for the fortnight prior.
Cath McEvoy-Carr, Executive Director for Childrens and Adult’s Services at Northumberland County Council said: “The health and safety of our residents is our top priority and we must do all we can to protect our most vulnerable.
“We have been closely monitoring the situation and due to the increase in infection rates across the county and the surrounding areas we have now written to providers asking them to close their doors to visitors as a precaution. This has been a difficult decision to make and we absolutely sympathise with our care home residents and their families who will be upset by this move.
“We appreciate that a huge amount of work has been carried out by all of our care homes during the pandemic and we are very grateful for all of their hard work and support.
“Covid-19 is still with us and we must all do everything we can to protect ourselves, protect others and protect Northumberland.”
Cllr Jeff Watson, cabinet member for Adult Health and Wellbeing, said: “The health and wellbeing of people across Northumberland is our absolute priority. We have been monitoring the local situation closely and sadly now it has changed, we are having to ask our care homes to temporarily restrict visiting at this time.
“We all have a part to play in fighting this pandemic. While I know it will be upsetting for the families and residents, we have made this decision with their wellbeing in mind.”
