Coronavirus: Oaklands still asking 'proper protection' as second case confirmed

It is believed that three quarters of residents, all over the age of 65, as well as seven staff are showing symptoms of Covid-19 at Oaklands Nursing Home in Hove.

The home’s plea comes as the nationwide death toll reached 759, the sharpest daily increase so far.

In the UK there are now 14,579 people infected with the virus, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

In the Dyke Road Avenue home, which houses 20 residents, requests to the NHS for help including testing for staff and long-sleeved gowns have still not been fulfilled, despite pleas from manager Betti Korder.

It is now believed to be day 16 of the coronavirus outbreak, with one sick resident “hanging on” to his life.

John Kent, whose mother is also ill at the home, is in constant contact with staff.

He said: “The home has still not been given the proper protection – long-sleeved gowns – they asked for and there is still no news or updates on getting the staff tested.

“Frontline staff in the home can’t be sent home as there is a risk of spreading the virus, so they are having to self-isolate elsewhere.

“The home is wondering if there is anything someone could do to help, maybe they have a campervan the staff could use to park outside and live in – or maybe there are hotel rooms available?”

On Monday, The Argus revealed how, despite the best efforts from managers who were instructing people to self-isolate, residents and staff developed symptoms, including a high fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.

Three residents were tested on Saturday, two results were positive and one was negative.

The home had been asking for its staff to be tested so that those found not to have the virus could return to work.

But so far, no tests have been conducted on staff.

Authorities have responded to worried care homes who have been asking why they had not been told about the outbreak, considering many homes share agency staff.

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, confirmed at Prime Minsters Questions on Wednesday that agency staff at Oaklands had also been working elsewhere in the city.

Brighton and Hove City Council, which refused to say when it first learned about the outbreak, said it was offering support for residents in the homes it runs and as well as privately owned ventures.

When asked why it did not inform other care homes, the council said that “notifications and actions relating to Covid-19 are a matter between the nursing home, Public Health England and the local NHS”.

But an NHS spokeswoman said “it is not an NHS facility and statutory responsibility for care homes fall under local authorities”.

Trish Mannes, deputy director for health protection for Public Health England South East, said: “When suspected cases are reported to our health protection teams, further guidance is sent to the care home.

“This includes that the care home must advise staff, including agency staff, who are symptom free, not to work at any other care or healthcare premises until the outbreak is over.

“The guidance also clearly states that if staff become symptomatic they should self-isolate and not come into work or visit other healthcare premises, and symptomatic residents should also self-isolate.”

Both Boris Johnson, 55, and Matt Hancock, 41, have tested positive for coronavirus and are in self-isolation.

In a message on his Twitter account this morning, Boris Johnson said he has developed mild symptoms of Covid-19 and is self-isolating.

He said: “I have a temperature and a mild cough. I’m working from home and self-isolating and that’s entirely the right thing to do. But be in no doubt that I can continue, thanks to the wizardry of modern technology, to communicate with my top team to lead the national fightback against the coronavirus.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced hours later that he had it too.

He said: “Following medical advice, I was advised to test for coronavirus. I’ve tested positive. Thankfully my symptoms are mild and I’m working from home and self-isolating. It is vital we follow the advice to protect our NHS and save lives.”

Sir Andrew Bowden, who served as a Conservative Brighton Kemptown MP for 27 years, said: “I’m terribly sad to hear that the Prime Minister has tested positive for coronavirus. I hope it is a very mild attack and he will be back in action in a couple of weeks.

“If he had to stand down, it’s bound to cause disruption in government and that is the last thing we need right now.”

Five more people in Brighton and Hove have tested positive for coronavirus. There have now been 30 cases overall in the city.

The total number of people diagnosed with the virus has also risen elsewhere in Sussex. The number of cases in East Sussex climbed from 22 to 26, while West Sussex’s total leapt from 57 to 69.

This brings the overall Sussex figure to 125, up from 104.

Nationally there are 14,579 confirmed cases with 759 deaths.