U.K. care-home sector shows resilience despite COVID-19

The U.K. care-home sector is beginning to recover following the impact of COVID-19 in second quarter 2020, with occupancy measuring 80.2 percent and a steadily increasing admission rate, as confidence in the sector begins to resume, according to Knight Frank.

The COVID-19 care-home occupancy tracking survey by Knight Frank surveys 21 operators managing 1,391 care homes and 79,848 registered beds and encompasses approximately 15 percent of the U.K. care-home market. It has found overall occupancy as of mid-August 2020 measures 80.2 percent, which is 8 percent below the pre-pandemic level but has been increasing robustly since July as confidence levels improve within the sector.

Care-home operators have also been devising and implementing new procedures to ensure they are best prepared in case of resurgence of the virus in the winter months, with barrier nursing and isolation measures crucial steps to maintain infection control.

This follows Knight Frank’s findi