Home carers across Bromley will be regularly tested for coronavirus as part of a council partnerships with local providers.

The scheme will see a total of 1,354 staff from 42 domiciliary care agencies in the borough receive testing from November 24.

The programme will crucially identify staff who are asymptomatic cases, ensuring that they can take prompt action to self-isolate - a key driver in helping to contain the virus.

Councillor Diane Smith, Executive Member for Adult Care and Health, said:“We have made the testing of domiciliary care staff a corporate priority, given the critical work that they carry out amongst the borough’s most vulnerable people.

"We knew this was an initiative we needed to deliver quickly to keep infection numbers low, building as it does on the lead Bromley took earlier in the pandemic when we systematically organised testing of both residents and staff in care homes followed by other residential homes across the borough.

“I firmly believe that this approach has helped keep Bromley’s infection rates as relatively low as they currently are compared to other parts of the capital, but there is absolutely no room for any complacency.

“Situations can and have turned very quickly in other places for no obvious reason and this must not be allowed to happen here.

“We need to drive infection rates down to far lower levels yet, and this strengthened approach to testing will significantly assist us in achieving that aim.”