More than half of Hartlepool care homes hit by coronavirus - but no new cases in last week

Public Health England data revealed that 15 of the town’s 26 residential and nursing homes reported a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 up to May 17.

That was three more homes than for up to May 3, and means that at least 58% of homes in the town have now been affected by the virus.

It is also a higher rate than the rest of the North East where 49% of homes have been affected, and 38% for England as a whole.

But Hartlepool Borough Council says there have been no new cases of Covid-19 at homes in the last week, and many people are getting better from the virus.

The local authority has also distributed over 100,000 items of personal protective equipment.

Jill Harrison, the council’s Director of Adult & Community Based Services, said: “Care homes across Hartlepool are doing an amazing job during these most challenging of times and we are very grateful for the love, care and support they are providing to residents.

“We’re really pleased to report no new Covid-19 cases in care homes in Hartlepool in the last week, as well as lots of people recovering.

“Hartlepool Borough Council is committed to supporting care providers and since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic we have distributed over 100,000 items of PPE, helped to get testing for residents and staff and we’ve also contacted them over 1,500 times with advice and support.”

The Government has been criticised for its handling of social care during the coronavirus crisis, including by Hartlepool MP Mike Hill, with claims that insufficient attention was given to the threat to care homes at the start of the outbreak.

Office for National Statistics figures show that nearly a third of coronavirus-related deaths nationally registered up to May 23 occurred in care homes.

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said they are prioritising care homes and areas with greatest need for testing and nearly 125,000 workers in care settings and over 118,000 care home residents have been tested.

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