THE owners of a care home have declined to comment on claims it has had 16 cases of Covid-19.

It is believed most of the positive tests involved residents, although a number of members of staff have also been infected, a source said.

The source said they had been informed by a manager at Oak Lodge Care Home, in Lordleaze Lane, Chard, of the outbreak.

The source said they were unsure if anyone had been hospitalised or had died as a result of contracting the virus.

They are uncertain how many people at Oak Lodge currently have Covid-19, although he understands at least one person who suffered minor symptoms has now recovered.

The source said: "The home is treating the situation correctly and is in lockdown, while staff put on PPE when entering the residents' rooms and take it off as they leave the rooms.

"They are not sure where the cases came from, but there was one person who was a hospital admission who later tested positive."

A spokesman for Majesticare, which owns Oak Lodge, said: "We do not wish to add comment to the sensitive situation the UK is currently facing with regards to COVID-19."