Responding to the ONS figures released this morning showing over 12,500 care home residents have died from coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “The figures released today showing that more than 12,500 care home residents have died of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic are incredibly tragic and will horrify the British public. Even worse, the vast majority of these tragic deaths took place in a care home itself, not at a hospital where these people could have received critical care.
“The virus has swept through care homes right across England and Wales, where our most vulnerable were being looked after. The Prime Minister must come forward and explain how this dreadful situation has been allowed to happen under his watch.
“The Liberal Democrats and others have been repeatedly calling for care homes to be provided with adequate personal protective equipment and access to frequent testing. How many lives will be lost before the Government resolves this crisis?
“If we are to keep the most vulnerable people in our society safe, the Government must get a grip on the spread of coronavirus in our care homes.”