Hartlepool care homes hit by second spike - situation reaching similar level to peak during national lockdown

Hartlepool Borough Council officers said seven care homes in the area, as of Friday, had outbreak control plans in place, meaning they have more than one positive Covid-19 case across residents and staff.

Council officers praised the work of staff across the region in care homes throughout the seven months since the start of the pandemic.

Councillors on the adult and community based services committee heard at their meeting on Friday, October 23, coronavirus cases in care homes have been rising again, after reducing steadily from May to September.

Jill Harrson, council director of adult and community based services, noted the rise is linked to an increase in cases more generally across the borough.

She added thankfully they were not seeing ‘anywhere near’ the same level of deaths as earlier in the year.

She said: “Unfortunately over recent weeks we have seen an increase in cases in care homes, that does seem to be linked to an increase in cases overall throughout the borough, particularity community transmission.

“What we’ve seen particularly in the second wave, in terms of differences to the first wave, is that predominantly it’s staff that have tested positive in much higher numbers this time than care home residents.

“We have had a very challenging situation just over the last week, where one care home had a very high number of residents and staff test positive, but thankfully the council was able to support that and provide staffing to support the home to continue to operate safely.

“While we did see that reduction in cases between May and September, we are in a position now where numbers are close to where they were earlier in the year.”

At the peak of the pandemic in April, some care homes had up to 50% of staff self-isolating due to being symptomatic or having tested positive.

Around that time in one particular week there were 42 cases confirmed and 12 deaths reported among care home residents.

Council staff have been working to support care homes throughout the pandemic, and have been in regular contact.

Officers added they have provided a huge range of support including supplying PPE in the early stages, offering advice, guidance and additional financial support.

Ms Harrison praised the work of staff in care homes in Hartlepool for their work throughout the pandemic.

She said: “People in care homes have obviously been particularly vulnerable throughout the pandemic.

“There’s been a huge amount of time and effort and resources to support care homes over the past seven months.

“This was obviously incredibly challenging to manage for the care homes, but the response from the care home providers was absolutely fantastic.

“The care, the compassion that they’ve shown for their residents and their staff has been absolutely outstanding.”

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