Government failures in care settings created an environment that allowed Covid-19 to spread "like wildfire," according to the sixth report from the official Covid inquiry.

The inquiry found that the care sector was treated as an "afterthought" in the early stages of the pandemic, and despite ministerial claims, no effective protective measures were put in place around care homes.

Between March 2020 and July 2022, more than 43,000 recorded deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in care homes across the UK. The 287-page report detailed critical shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for care workers and criticized the practice of discharging hospital patients into care homes without adequate isolation protocols.

These systemic failures, combined with policy decisions and a lack of pre-pandemic planning, had devastating consequences for the approximately 1.5 million adults living in care homes or receiving home care when the pandemic began. The inquiry chair, Baroness Hallett, stated that the "overriding focus" of the UK government and devolved administrations was on protecting hospitals, leaving care settings vulnerable.

The report debunked claims made by then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock that a "protective ring" had been placed around care homes, finding this assertion to be unfounded. It highlighted instances where staff resorted to makeshift PPE, such as bin bags and ponchos, due to severe shortages.

Furthermore, while the discharge of hospital patients into care homes was deemed understandable, the inquiry noted that guidance on necessary isolation was not followed in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, representing a significant oversight. The lack of financial support for care workers also made it difficult for infected staff to take time off, potentially contributing to the virus's spread.

Long-standing issues within the care sector, including financial instability and staff shortages, were exacerbated by the pandemic's onset. By September 2020, evidence suggested that visitors posed only a minimal infection risk. However, many care homes failed to relax restrictions in line with updated guidance, leading to a significant decline in residents' health and well-being.

Concerns were also raised about the reported use of blanket "do-not-resuscitate" orders in some care homes, which are considered unlawful. Additionally, millions of unpaid carers were left to manage increasingly complex care needs with insufficient support.