Liz Kendall, Labour's shadow health minister, told the House of Commons: "Throughout the Covid pandemic ministers repeatedly claimed they threw a protective ring around England's care homes and always followed the evidence and scientific advice.

"But WhatsApp messages from the former health secretary revealed in today's Telegraph suggest nothing could be further from the truth.

"Can the minister now confirm that the chief medical officer first advised the Government to test all residents going into care homes in early April 2020? Can she explain why the former health secretary rejected this advice and failed to introduce community testing until the 14th of August, a staggering four months later?"

She added: "Even if tests were in short supply, why weren't care home residents prioritised when the devastating impact of Covid was there for all to see?"

#matthancock #lockdown #covid19

Read the full article here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/01/matt-hancock-latest-news-covid-whatsapp-groups-lockdown-care/

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