INCREASED coronavirus testing should ensure a "ring of steel around all of our care homes", according to Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Older People.
Eddie Lynch today said while increased testing for care homes across the north was "very positive", he did not believe the proposals for testing go far enough.
There are currently outbreaks in 75 care homes.
Figures released last week revealed that almost half of Covid-19-related deaths in Northern Ireland have happened in care homes.
Statistics from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency showed there were 232 confirmed Covid-19 deaths in care homes up to May 1 - which accounts for 45% of all coronavirus-linked deaths.
Yesterday Health Minister Robin Swann unveiled the Executive's plan to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic in care homes.
He said the Executive planned to "significantly expand testing" across care homes with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service providing mobile testing from Monday.
Other measures include strengthening by trusts of hospital-to-community outreach teams to deliver specialist care and support to older people in care homes and their own homes.
Speaking today, Mr Lynch welcomed the proposals and said it was a "step in the right direction".
"It still isn't rolling out testing to homes that have no Covid signs or outbreaks so far and for me the purpose of universal testing is to put that ring of steel around all of our care homes as much as we possibly can," he told the BBC.
"We've heard stories from frontline workers, from nurses, from social care workers who have expressed their concerns at not being tested, as well as residents in homes themselve.
"It is a step in the right direction, there's no doubt about that, it's increasing testing, but we still need answers about what measures are going to be in place for those homes that don't have Covid now, who have done such a great job of keeping it out at this stage.
"What other measures, in the absence of testing, can drive that reassurance to family members and staff and the public that those homes are being protected as best as they possibly can."
It comes as an independent watchdog today revealed that inspectors have fielded hundreds of recent calls for help from whistle blowers or staff about standards in care homes during the pandemic.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) said managers, relatives of residents and trade unionists were also among those raising issues like infection control and use of personal protective equipment.
Interim chief executive Dermot Parsons told the Stormont health committee that they had investigated issues raised.
"We are highly responsive to concerns that staff raise," he said.
"We have also had contact from trade unions, other representatives of staff, who have highlighted particular practices."
He said routine inspections had ceased on March 20 following advice from the Department of Health.
But they had received more than 3,000 contacts since the end of March from care services, nursing homes and residential care homes, with almost two thirds seeking advice.
One whistle blower communicated concerns relating to the service not using PPE properly.
The committee was told that nine special site inspections had been carried out in recent weeks where there were specific concerns.
Mr Parsons said efforts were being made to minimise footfall in homes to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
