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Covid-19: Half Of Residents At East Sussex Care Home Die Over Christmas

Image: Belmont Healthcare

According to an article by The Guardian, half the residents at a care home in East Sussex died over the festive period from confirmed or suspected Covid-19.

Thirteen of the 27 residents at Edendale Lodge care home in Crowhurst reportedly died between December 13 and January 4, including on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

Adam Hutchison is the Managing Director of Belmont Healthcare, the home's operator, he told the publication:

"It was an awful Christmas and terrible for the staff.

"It is just unstoppable.

"We are sitting ducks."

He told the Guardian that twelve staff members had tested positive during the outbreak, one of which was admitted to hospital but was recovering.

Mr. Hutchison added:

"It's hard for me to say how it got in.

"Because of the protocols we were following, everything was there."

According to the article, the home was following strict measures to reduce risk of infection such as a ban on visits, personal protective equipment and no use of agency staff who operate between different homes.

As of December 25, there had been 286 deaths recorded in care homes across East Sussex - according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The number has steadily been rising over the last few weeks, with 16 deaths recorded during the week commencing December 21, almost double the number recorded two weeks previous, which was triple the week previous to that (November 30).

On Thursday (January 7), Boris Johnson said every elderly care home resident would be offered a coronavirus jab by the end of January.

 

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