The NHS and local authorities in Dorset is looking for potential rooms to accommodate medically-fit people discharged from hospital to free-up beds during the anticipated COVID-19 demand.
In Dorset this is currently understood to be approximately 120 people from across the three acute hospitals. They are already speaking to care home providers but these are having to balance their duty of care to other residents, many of whom fall into multiple high-risk categories.
The Dorset Council Housing Service teams are also looking for accommodation where people or families living in temporary accommodation can more effectively self-isolate, should they start displaying symptoms.