Health directors are stepping in to make sure care homes in Tayside are coping with coronavirus.
NHS Tayside said that all public and private homes are to be assessed.
Directors will assess infection control, staffing, training, social distancing and testing.
NHS Tayside’s community testing team is providing support for testing in care homes, including for staff members with symptoms, to enable a quicker return to work if they test negative for coronavirus.
The health board said more than 700 patients, care home residents and health and social care staff or their contacts have been tested in the last week alone.
Where there is an outbreak, care homes are supported by NHS Tayside’s health protection team and the local health and social care partnership.
They provide guidance on extra precautions, such as closing the care home to new admissions or isolating residents and decisions are reviewed daily.
Dr Drew Walker, director of public health at NHS Tayside, said: “This virus is a particular and serious threat to the most vulnerable in our society.
“Amongst those are our oldest citizens and those with underlying conditions.
“That means protecting the residents of care homes is vital – just as it is during flu season and when they experience outbreaks of norovirus.
“The care system across Scotland is under significant pressure due to covid-19 and we are very appreciative of the work being done by care homes, both those run by the health and social care partnerships and those provided by private sector organisations in Tayside in delivering a hugely valued service to some of the most vulnerable people in our population who are under their care.
“We would like to reassure families that NHS Tayside, the local Health and Social Care Partnerships and Local Authorities in Tayside are all working closely together to support care home staff and residents during the pandemic.”
