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My sister works as a carer in a local privately run care home. She has been worried sick over the policies for coronavirus not being implemented there.

Not until 16 March were they given the OK to wear full PPE, even though it was in the care home prior to that. They were told by the managers that they were following government guidelines set out by the care minister, Helen Whately, and that wearing PPE would worry the residents and should only happen if a resident had confirmed Covid-19.

She, like many who work in care, is not in a union. They feel powerless as they do not want to stop working because they are short of staff and want to look after the residents. Yet at the same time, they fear they could potentially kill a resident if they bring the virus in with them, and without PPE could spread it in the home.

Brother of a care worker