A major Covid inquiry report has concluded that government failures allowed coronavirus to spread devastatingly through Britain's care homes, where more than 43,000 deaths involving Covid were recorded between March 2020 and July 2022. Inquiry chair Baroness Hallett said social care had been treated as an afterthought, with insufficient testing, protective equipment, and planning leaving vulnerable residents and staff dangerously exposed. The report rejected government claims that a protective ring had been established around care homes. It criticised inadequate guidance when hospital patients were discharged into residential care, insufficient financial support for infected care workers and longstanding staffing shortages. Excessive visiting restrictions also caused serious emotional and physical harm, separating families from loved ones, sometimes during their final days. Evidence of blanket do-not-resuscitate orders raised further concerns. Bereaved families and care organisations have called for accountability and urgent reform to prevent similar tragedies.