COVID-19 testing will be made available to all care home residents and staff across Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Robin Swann said it is intended to complete the roll-out of testing to all residents next month.
In addition, a rolling testing programme for all staff will be put in place.
“Following detailed planning and preparatory work, I can now confirm that testing will be available to all residents and staff.
“There are some important sensitivities to be addressed. There are human rights considerations where residents may not consent to be tested or may not be able to consent – for reasons such as dementia.
“The swab test for Covid-19 can be an unpleasant and intrusive process, so there are also issues in relation to subjecting frail older persons to swabbing, particularly in homes where there are no outbreaks,” he said.
He said a way forward will be found on these issues, in close consultation with care home staff, residents and their family members.
At present in Northern Ireland, care home staff and families have access to testing if they have symptoms.
All staff and residents are also tested in homes when two or more people – staff or residents – have symptoms, as this is a possible outbreak scenario. Testing is underway for all residents and staff in homes where there have been previous outbreaks that have not been resolved.
The next phase will involve the start of testing for all residents and staff in care homes which do not have and have not had an outbreak, with the aim of helping to keep these homes free of Covid-19.
This ongoing expansion of care home testing will involve:
Provisional figures based on returns from around 95% of care homes – indicate 3,762 residents have been tested to date. That’s over 25% of the care home population.
A rolling programme of testing for staff will be confirmed in the near future.
The Minister added: “It has to be emphasised once again that testing is not a solution to the Covid-19 threat in care homes. It builds on the wider programme of support that has already been put in place, which includes staffing and financial support, PPE provision and robust infection prevention and control measures.”