Responding to latest ONS figures which show a record-high number of deaths linked to coronavirus in care homes in England and Wales, Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK Director, said:

“These figures are incredibly alarming - and raise serious questions around the consequence of the Government’s failure to properly protect the UK’s care home residents and key workers from COVID-19.

“Care workers and frontline medical staff have been facing a chronic shortage of personal protective and testing equipment for months.

“The Government must now act quickly to provide adequate protective equipment, testing and training for those on the frontline of this crisis. Any delay will only cost more lives.”