King Charles Court care home, Falmouth has been selected in a pilot scheme for family members to get regular testing for safer visits.

Announced today, family members or friends of those living in care homes will be given regular testing to reunite them with their loved ones in care homes as a new pilot launches on Monday (16th November).

It is taking place in around 20 care homes from Monday and will be rolled out more widely in December in time for Christmas.

Regular testing will be offered to one family member or friend per resident, which – when combined with other infection-control measures such as PPE – will support meaningful visits.

These will enable, where possible, indoor visits without a screen to take place while reducing the risk to care home residents, staff and visitors.

Visitors will be offered either PCR tests which they can do at home, or the new 30-minute rapid lateral flow tests (LFTs), which can be administered in person at care homes before a visit.

Reacting to the news Jayne Kirkham, Cornwall Councillor for Falmouth Smithick commented:

"This is brilliant news for people with loved ones in King Charles Court, Falmouth.

"The national testing pilot will include this home so that visitors can see their family/friends.

"Now, please make it available to all the other settings in Cornwall as soon as possible."

Click here to see more from King Charles Court.

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