By Ben Kerrigan-
The families and friends of some care home residents in England will be able to resume visiting their loved ones, the British Government has today confirmed.
Visits had been limited and dependent both on local infection rates and the individual care home.
Under the new guidance, local directors of public health will have to conclude it is safe to do so.
Risk assessments will be undertaken in homes before they are reopened and visits that take place will involve face coverings and social distancing measures. Visits should also be limited to a “single constant visitor” per resident where possible.
“We are now able to carefully and safely allow visits to care homes, which will be based on local knowledge and circumstances for each care home,” said Matt Hancock.
“It is really important that we don’t undo all of the hard work of care homes over the last few months while ensuring families and friends can be safely reunited, so we have put in place guidance that protects everyone,” the Health Secretary added.
Care homes have been particularly badly hit during the coronavirus pandemic – at least 20,000 residents in England and Wales have died since the outbreak began.
But Lisa Lenton, chair of the Care Providers Alliance, welcomed the latest “overdue guidance”.
“The CPA has been calling for Government guidance for many weeks and released its own visitors protocol last month in its absence,” she said. “People need people and this is such an important step for the wellbeing of individuals and their relatives.”