A care home has essentially gone into a Covid lockdown following an outbreak of the virus.
Woodlands Care Home in Westhoughton has put in restrictions on visits to the home and has announced when they will be lifted.
It states it is a 'closed home' as a result of the outbreak of the virus.
The measures were announced in a statement by Woodlands Care Home.
The outbreak means that only one visitor is allowed per day per resident.
The care home - a specialist in dementia care - will ‘hopefully’ reopen again on Monday January 29.
In a statement put out by the care home in Wigan Road, the care home stated: “Notice to all relatives.
“We are in a Covid outbreak.
“This means we are a closed home.
“Restrictions are one visitor per day per resident.
“We will hopefully be reopen January 29.
“Please call the home if you require any further information.”
Westhoughton South councillor, David Chadwick said that it is especially important for care homes to help minimise the spread of Covid with the people in the home being elderly and vulnerable.
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He said: “Because it’s a care home, it’s important to make sure we don’t spread any infections further than the home.
“It’s sensible that they closed it until the Covid outbreak is over.
“Our experience during Covid from the beginning shows that there was a problem with spreading the infection and patients were discharged from hospitals with Covid into homes, which exacerbated the situation.
“It’s important we safeguard the elderly and vulnerable people ’s wellbeing because we don’t want to have an epidemic – a minor spreading of the disease.”
Cllr Chadwick says when it comes to Covid in care homes that being cautious is vital.
He added: “We have learned from the experiences of the 2019/2020 period.
“And I think the care home are doing an excellent job.”
Bolton Trust was caring for 37 patients with Covid in hospital as of Sunday January 14, figures show.
NHS England data shows the number of people being treated in hospital with Covid by 8am on January 14 was up from 25 on the same day the previous week.
Across England, there were 3,814 people in hospital with Covid as of January 14.
Nearly four years on from the start of the pandemic, Covid vaccines are still available for people, especially for those who are vulnerable.
Bolton Council cabinet member for adults, health and wellbeing Cllr Linda Thomas has urged people to make use of the borough’s walk-in centres and says more will be opening soon.
She said: “It’s still really important to get the Covid vaccine, especially for people with specific health conditions and other vulnerable groups."
The care home told The Bolton News it did not wish to comment.
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