Since October 2021, all of Government’s residential care facilities operated by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) have conducted a regimen of routine testing for Covid-19 with lateral flow tests, approved by Public Health and utilised by the UK. (See: https://www.gov.ky/news/press-release-details/miisd-cv19-november2021 ) These regimens have been fully supported by the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development.

This week the Ministry was made aware that routine testing at Maple House – a residential home that cares for adults with special needs and/or disabilities – revealed positive cases of Covid-19 among residents and staff members. PCR testing was conducted for all staff and residents.

In response, and working collaboratively with Public Health and the Ministry, DCFS has enacted its contingency plans for all individuals testing positive to reside separately in isolation at another location, thereby enabling staff to continue to care for residents during their quarantine period.

In line with scientific and medical understanding of Covid-19 and its variants, the Ministry will continue to provide all resources to DCFS to support its staff and the residents of Government’s care homes, in aiding to prevent mortality and reduce morbidity from this highly contagious disease