Coronavirus outbreak at Andover Care Home
Sadly reports of up to 5 deaths
Last updated 9th Feb 2021
A care home in Andover has confirmed that its been hit by a coronavirus outbreak and sadly some residents have passed away,
The 87-bed Andover Nursing home in Weyhill Road say it's the first outbreak they've had since the pandemic hit.
Director Dr. Ramneek Greywall said:
“We are a close-knit community at the Andover Nursing Home. I can confirm that we recently have had some residents test positive for COVID-19, for the first time during this pandemic.
"I am extremely proud of how our staff team has pulled together to ensure that we continue to deliver the highest standards of care to residents despite having some staff self-isolating. We are working hard to ensure residents continue to feel safe and remain happy and socially engaged. Like others across the country, we are seeing how some residents are having mild or almost no symptoms with this disease. Others sadly, have become very poorly and succumbed to the disease.
He continued:
" We are communicating regularly with all our residents and their families and they continue to inspire us with their resilience and ability to make us smile through these times. For our residents’ privacy, we will not be commenting on the number of deaths from any cause and I thank you for your understanding on this matter.
"I continue to feel hopeful looking to the year ahead and encourage everyone who is offered the vaccine to take it up so that we can all be safer from this disease in the months ahead.“
Public Health England said they were currently supporting the care home through the outbreak, which is ongoing. But said although they had been informed that there have been deaths at the home they couldn't confirm exact numbers as care homes are not obligated to report every death to PHE and even if they did those numbers can change overnight.
They confirmed the Local Authority and CCG were both involved and also supporting the home.
Trish Mannes, Deputy Director of Health Protection for Public Health England South East, said:
“It is important that we do all we can to protect our elderly and vulnerable in care homes. It is really positive news that vaccinations are being given to priority groups according to age and vulnerability. Care home residents and staff have been prioritised for vaccination.
“We know care home staff are under a huge amount of pressure and we have nothing but admiration for the tough job they are doing. Sadly, many care home residents, as well as some of the dedicated staff who care for them, have lost their lives during this pandemic and many families have lost loved ones.
“Our role at PHE is to work very closely with local authority and NHS colleagues, as well as care home management teams in the event of a confirmed case or outbreak. We advise the care home management teams on the best actions to take to help prevent further cases.
“Care homes have been working incredibly hard to stop the spread of COVID-19. When residents or staff members develop symptoms, they immediately implement cleaning, self-shielding and self-isolating measures. All homes are advised to keep these measures in place to help reduce the risk of further cases, and are given guidance to closely monitor residents, looking out for symptoms such as fever, cough or difficulty breathing.”