UK health minister defends PM on care homes

A British health minister on Thursday defended Prime Minister Boris Johnson's strategy on care homes, a day after the opposition leader accused the government of being lax for releasing people from hospitals into nursing homes early in the outbreak without testing for the coronavirus.

Ed Argar said Johnson had "quite rightly" pushed back on the assertions made by Sir Keir Starmer, who quoted from government guidance available prior to March 12, and noted the importance of contextualising them.

The health minister said the advice had changed quickly when Britain moved from the contain phase on that date and evidence of COVID-19 transmission in the community was beginning to be seen.

"The government moved very swiftly, when that change occurred, to give very clear guidance to care homes about restricting visits, restricting access to all but the most essential visitors," Argar said.

Britain’s official death total stands at 33,186, the highest in Europe and second only to the United States.

Argar also quoted the CEO of NHS Providers Chris Hopson who said he hadn't seen evidence of trusts "systematically discharging people they knew had COVID-19."

He said that during a period from February to April there had been 40%fewer discharges from hospitals into care home settings.

Argar also commented on an antibody test that shows whether people have previously been exposed to the new coronavirus saying it was "very good news" and could be a "game changer".

British health authorities have for the first time approved the test, manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Roche, which has already been approved for use in the United States and the European Union.

Public Health England says government scientists found the test to be 100% accurate.

It shows whether people have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 and have developed antibodies against it, which may provide some immunity.

The British government says it is working on plans to offer antibody tests to health care workers and the public.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said an antibody test could be a “game changer” in allowing the UK to end its national lockdown.

But attempts to find a reliable test have been troubled.

Some 17.5 million tests ordered from various suppliers all failed to meet UK standards.