We reported earlier that the government has promised to test residents and staff with symptoms as laboratory capacity increases, after providers demanded greater support for the industry.

Speaking to the BBC Ms Whateley said: “The government has taken huge steps to get PPE out to the care sector. We have been working really hard to do whatever we can to protect those receiving care from this truly awful, horrible illness.”

Ms Whately also confirmed that 1,000 care workers have been tested and more than 2,000 have been referred for tests, with the Care Quality Commission set to contact around 30,000 providers to line people up for tests.

However, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer criticised the government, saying talk of testing in the care sector “seems to be weeks after what should have happened.”