Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish (a) advice and (b) guidance provided by the (i) Chief Medical Officer and (ii) Public Health England on the introduction of lateral flow testing as a precautionary measure to enable family members to hug relatives in care homes.

The Department has published ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) lateral flow testing of visitors in care homes’. This guidance has been informed by clinical and public health advice provided by Public Health England (PHE) and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer. PHE has provided specific advice on the use of lateral flow devices to enable safer visiting by loved ones to residents in care homes recognising a negative test result is not proof against incursion of infection and that all other appropriate infection prevention and control measures, including use of personal protective equipment, social distancing and use of space are considered by care home managers as part of their risk assessment.