Care homes will be given free PPE until March under new coronavirus plans

New government plans for winter will see care homes given personal protective equipment (PPE) for free until March 2021.

The plans, to be published by the Department of Health, put forward free PPE as means to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 over winter, when the NHS will be tackling normal seasonal pressures on top of coronavirus cases.

In addition to this, a chief nurse will be appointed to provide extra guidance to nurses currently working in the care sector.

The government has already announced that £546 million will be awarded to care homes to help reduce coronavirus transmission.

This money will ensure carers only have to work in one care home (to reduce viral spread) and will pay workers full wages if they're forced to isolate due to the virus.

The reaction from the care sector

While council care directors have welcomed the new plans, they say there are significant gaps in what it offers to the sector.

They told t