Covid deaths in care homes show residents 'still being failed' - Scottish Labour
The party has condemned "rocketing" fatalities in care homes
An increase in Covid deaths in care homes shows residents are "still being failed" by the Scottish Government more than two years into the pandemic, Scottish Labour has claimed.
The party condemned "rocketing" fatalities in care homes after figures showed 79 residents with either confirmed or suspected Covid died in the week ending March 27.
That is more than double the previous week, and the highest weekly total since January 2021, Scottish Labour said.
It comes as the party claimed access to anti-viral medication to treat the virus is "patchy at best".
Scottish Labour also said that with less than two-fifths (37.8%) of care home residents having had a second Covid booster jag, more action is needed from the Scottish Government.
READ MORE: Sunak urged to help those facing ‘poverty and hardship’ with emergency budget
'No time for delay'
Party health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie is calling on ministers to speed up the rollout of the latest booster vaccination campaign.
The party also wants to see more anti-virals delivered to care homes to help treat those who contract the virus, as well as continued testing for all staff.
She challenged Health Secretary Humza Yousaf on the issue, warning: "The price of inaction will be further lives lost and families shattered. There is no time for delay - Humza Yousaf must act now.
"Two years into this pandemic and the residents of Scotland's care homes are still being failed. While the rest of the country begins to return to normality, our care home residents are being left behind and put in danger.
"Covid deaths are rocketing in our care homes - if lives are to be saved, the Cabinet Secretary must act now. We need to see a rapid acceleration of the booster programme in our care homes and the retention of regular, asymptomatic testing for care home workers."