Covid Inquiry finds care homes were ‘an afterthought’

A damning report into the impact of the Covid pandemic on care homes has criticised Government failings for allowing the virus to “spread like wildfire”.

The inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said ministers had known the care sector was vulnerable but failed to act until it was too late – while stopping relatives from visiting residents had caused “intense emotional harm”.

Bereaved families said it revealed one of the darkest episodes in the country’s history.