Quarter of Scottish deaths linked to coronavirus happen in care homes

A quarter of deaths registered in Scotland where coronavirus is mentioned on the death certificate have happened in care homes.

According to the National Records of Scotland, there had been 962 deaths registered where Covid-19 was either confirmed or suspected as of Sunday night.

That includes confirmed cases, where a patient has been tested in hospital, and cases in the community where it is suspected that the virus played a part.

Nearly 70% of all deaths were of people aged 75 or over.

Scottish Labour is calling for the Scottish Government to publish an emergency plan to prevent the continued rapid spread of the virus in care homes.

Health spokesperson Monica Lennon said: "Each life lost in a care home due to coronavirus is a tragedy. It’s heartbreaking that care staff and families fear that older people are being forgotten in the fight against coronavirus.

"The Scottish Government has been too slow to act - Nicola Sturgeon must publish an emergency plan for care homes with guaranteed support on testing and PPE.

"Hundreds of older people have been discharged from hospital in recent weeks to relieve pressure on our NHS – and many of them to residential care.

"Worryingly, we now know that coronavirus is spreading within hospitals, as well as care homes, but efforts to test, trace and isolate the virus are woeful.

"That’s why I’ve asked Jeane Freeman whether hospital patients are being tested for Covid-19 before being discharged to care homes - and if not, why not?

"Urgent action is needed to save lives."

Speaking at her daily briefing today, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "This shouldn’t need said but I want to say it - the residents of care homes matter every bit as much to us as people in the community or in hospital.”

Ms Sturgeon said the first residents in care homes who show symptoms of the virus are tested - but there will now be a shift to testing all care home residents showing symptoms.

The first minister says that "while this is not strictly necessary for, nor will it change the clinical management of cases in care homes, it’s nevertheless important for the confidence of relatives, staff and the wider public, given the vulnerability of care homes".

She added: "The guidance to care homes is already very clear in terms of isolation and social distancing and that remains the most important factor in making sure that we are managing and preventing infection in care homes."