Matt Hancock denies claims he rejected Covid care home testing advice

Ex-health minister dismisses claims he ignored expert advice as ‘distorted’ and ‘spun to fit anti-lockdown agenda’

Matt Hancock has denied claims he rejected advice to give coronavirus tests to all residents going into English care homes, labelling them a “distorted account” that is “spun to fit an anti-lockdown agenda”.

A Daily Telegraph investigation based on a leaked trove of more than 100,000 WhatsApp messages alleges the then health secretary ignored Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, and instead prioritised testing those discharged from hospital to care homes.

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