Daughter calls for more care home testing after 92-year-old mother is diagnosed with coronavirus

  • Wales

A woman whose 92-year-old mother developed coronavirus in her care home has said that more testing on the front lines is a "necessity" across the country to help keep people safe.

It comes just one week after Health Minister Vaughan Gething said that almost a third of care homes in Wales had a confirmed case of coronavirus.

Yvonne Murphy has called for all staff and residents at care homes to be tested if they believe there is a COVID-19 case in the facility, which she believes will help stop the spread of the virus.

Yvonne's mother Florence is a resident at a care home in Penarth, and although she is asymptomatic, her daughter said she is concerned for her welfare.

Yvonne has said that she is dreading the next 10 days after Florence was diagnosed on Thursday Credit: Yvonne Murphy

Yvonne revealed she has now been spending a large amount of her time lobbying, to make sure that "the correct steps" are taken to help protect those in similar positions.

"I can't quite describe how heroic the staff are, but standing on our doorsteps and clapping on a Thursday is not going to protect them and nor is the current policy," Yvonne continued.

"Their lives and the lives of their loved ones are being put at risk because of this."

Some care home bosses have agreed after it was revealed that the number of deaths from the virus in care homes could in fact be much higher than the figures suggest.

At the moment, the policy adopted by the Welsh Government is to test staff or residents who are showing symptoms of COVID-19, but this has been criticised with the number of deaths in care homes expected to be much higher than the reported figures.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said, "All care home residents returning from hospital are now routinely tested too. Together with other measures and precautions, current evidence shows this is the best way to stop the spread of the virus and keep residents and staff safe."

The care home is run by the Vale of Glamorgan Council and the cabinet member for social care and health Cllr Ben Gray said that extra measures have been put in place to ensure the protection of staff.

Florence has been described as a "brilliant mother of six children, who loves to laugh and love life."

Florence is yet to show any symptoms of COVID-19 despite testing positive Credit: Yvonne Murphy

"This is not just about my mum, this is not just about my Mum's care home they have been exemplary, this is about every care home in the UK, this is about every resident, every carer, every member of NHS staff who is going to be affected." Yvonne continued.

"It is about every citizen who is going to be affected because of staff walking about out of that care home and so many more who are going out in the world without being tested, it is putting so many more people at risk."

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