A resident of an East Riding care home caught coronavirus despite having both doses of the vaccine, the council’s care lead has said.
East Riding Council’s Adults, Health and Customer Services Director John Skidmore told councillors the coronavirus case, the only one confirmed in the area’s 140 homes, was asymptomatic.
The director added it came as homes were facing staffing issues due to rising numbers having to self-isolate and others leaving the sector for jobs in retail and elsewhere.
Mr Skidmore said:
“The individual in the care home had had two vaccine doses, they were asymptomatic but tested positive for coronavirus.
“As infections rise we will find people for who the vaccine doesn’t work, so we need to keep measures in place in the homes to protect the vulnerable.
“We know people want to see their loved ones, but we won’t be opening our doors fully.
“Demand pressures across the health and care sectors have significant, that’s something we’re seeing not only here but both regionally and nationally.
“Mental health services are seeing increasing complexity and acuity and cases with the impact of the pandemic, including among children and adolescents.
“We also have a number of people still furloughed or receiving income support, some of them will need help they’ve never required before.”
It comes as Mr Skidmore told the Health, Care and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee requests for home care packages had risen by 25 per cent since March.
The director said it came as families had become increasingly “anxious” about moving relatives into care homes in light of outbreaks seen in them during the pandemic.
He added it came as case numbers rose “significantly” in the East Riding in recent weeks as hospitals also faced rising demand while working to clear procedure and treatment backlogs.
Councillors heard care homes and council facilities including leisure centres would either keep some restrictions in place or advise visitors to follow them after Monday, July 19.
Mr Skidmore said the “proportionate” approach would follow a “significant” rise in coronavirus cases in the East Riding in recent weeks.
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