Sending elderly people to care homes without Covid tests breached human rights, says Amnesty

The decision to send thousands of untested patients back into care homes across England at the start of lockdown was a violation of human rights, according to Amnesty International.

Its report describes decisions made by the government as “inexplicable” and “disastrous” – and calls for urgent action to make sure the same mistakes are not repeated in future.

More than 18,000 residents of care homes have died with Covid 19 since the pandemic began.