During the pandemic 83 people have died at West Berkshire care homes after testing positive for Covid-19 THE government has been blamed for the “appalling” Covid-19 care home death toll in West Berkshire. The latest figures show there have been 83 Covid-related care home deaths in the district during the pandemic and this has caused demand for council-funded care to drop significantly. More than three quarters (64) of those deaths occurred between March and August in 2020. Cllr Alan Macro (Liberal Democrat) said: “This is an appalling situation that has been made far, far worse by this Conservative government’s actions and inactions. “Things like discharging patients into hospitals with no tests, a lack of PPE in hospitals and care homes. The list goes on and on.
All three are then expected to be approved when the council meets on Tuesday, March 2. If you want to find out more, but don t have the time (or energy) to go through all the complex council reports, charts and tables, then here are the five things you need to know.
Council tax is going up
West Berkshire Council is planning to increase council tax by 1.99 per cent, which means the average Band D household will see their bill rise to £1,596.40 in 2020/21. The increase, which is due to be approved on March 2, will raise an extra £2 million for the Conservative-run council.
More than 50 people have tested positive for the virus at the care home in Newbury (stock photo) MORE than 50 people have tested positive for Covid-19 at a care home in Newbury and nine have died following an outbreak.
West Berkshire Council said 31 residents and 24 members of staff have tested positive at Willows Edge care home so far. According to the council, which runs the care home, nine of those residents died but the other 22 have made “a good recovery”. Only one member of staff has not returned to work after catching the virus. The first positive test was recorded on Sunday, December 6.
More than 50 people have tested positive for Covid-19 at the care home FIFTY-FOUR people have tested positive for Covid-19 during an outbreak at a care home in Newbury.
West Berkshire Council says five people have died at Willows Edge since the first confirmed case on December 6 and three of those deaths were Covid-related. The council, which runs the care home, says it is working with Public Health England and the NHS to contain the outbreak, which has affected residents and members of staff. “We have some staff who were positive now all clear and returning to work so having our own staff back will be a great benefit to the home,” said a council spokeswoman.