Care homes have been told to prepare "isolation facilities" to manage any rapid discharge of hospital patients during a second wave of coronavirus.
A letter sent to all directors of adult services from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) says patients with positive Covid-19 tests must be discharged into an "appropriate designated setting".
These must be inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure they meet the regulator's infection control standards.
It says anyone discharged into a care home must have a test result which is communicated in advance to the residence. Councils will be required to provide alternative accommodation for the resident to isolate in if a care home does not have appropriate facilities.
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