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Those most in need right now are also the least able to help themselves - or even to protest about it.

They are our old. The folk who cared for us when we needed it; gave birth to us; taught us, nursed us in their younger days - and who are now frail and if aware, almost certainly very frightened because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They cannot ask the tough questions. So, we will.

This is not about scaring people. This is not about causing panic. This is simply asking whether any of this is right? Or is there a better way?

Let us start with the numbers of COVID-19-related .

The new normal abnormal is a daily briefing by the UK government stating the number of people who have died with COVID-19.

But those figures cannot be accurate by the very nature they are collected.

The statistics only reflect those who have tested positive - and those tests are only carried out once you are so ill, you are admitted to hospital.

Those who are dying in care homes, for instance, are NOT included.

Coronavirus: The infection numbers in real time

Question one: Is that right?

Just like those caring for them in the homes were not initially considered to be on the '"frontline" of the pandemic.

If caring for those who are MOST prone to infection and MOST likely to go downhill fast after becoming infected is not considered the "frontline", I am not sure what is.

Question two: Shouldn't we be getting sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) to every single care home assistant in the UK and making sure they use it?

Many of the residents in these care homes may not know of the dangers of COVID-19.

Some have dementia, or are confused.

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It seems fairly obvious then, that those of us who are aware need to step up to safeguard them.

If there is an outbreak, the deputy chief medical officer promised the testing of care assistants but this has yet to be carried out.

Question 3: Why isn't there testing of care assistants and residents in care homes?

Many are appalled at what they believe is happening and the casual approach to protecting our elderly against this rampant illness and the inevitable deaths which are following.

It has highlighted just how much we need to re-examine procedures in the care home sector.

Take the case of Oak Springs Care Home in Liverpool.

It had an outbreak of coronavirus about three weeks ago and its proving very difficult to contain now the virus is inside.

To date, 14 residents have died, and at one stage, the bulk of the staff were ill or showing symptoms.

The manager herself is now ill, but issued an urgent appeal for help before she went off sick saying her staff were doing all they could and that they are under a huge amount of strain.

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Agency care was organised; the issue of PPE was highlighted and their case taken up by among others, the MP for Liverpool Wavertree MP, Paula Barker.

She told Sky News: "Oak Springs is the start potentially of a ticking time-bomb in social care.

"We've seen the social care workers being treated like the Cinderella service.

"Some £7.5bn has been taken from local authority's social care budgets over the last decade, and what I'm concerned about - particularly with Oak Springs - is the sheer volume of staff and residents who are displaying symptoms."

Among the steps Ms Barker believes are necessary for all care homes are:

• The government must implement a National Care Strategy
• The government must do as the Deputy Chief Medical Office promised during the daily news conference and ensure testing for all care homes.
• There must be a multi-agency approach between local authorities, health services, CQC (Care Quality Commission) and care home owners to ensure there is an effective infection control strategy to safeguard residents and staff.
• Appropriate PPE must be readily available to all care home staff.
• There needs to be alternatives to discharge people from hospital who are unable to return to their care home along with improved communications between hospitals and care homes.
• An end to profits before safety by bringing the market back under local authority control.

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Professor John Ashton, who is a former health director, spoke to Sky News from his home in Kendal last week, of his fears and the scandal of neglect over the elderly during this pandemic.

He very much believes the numbers of death are seriously under-estimated and under-reported.

And that there is not enough regard being given to saving some of the most vulnerable and most at risk in our society.

"The elderly cannot be just written off," he said.