Wantage MP David Johnston recently raised in parliament his concerns over the physical and mental health of care home resident who have to isolate for long periods of time.
Some family members went months during the Covid pandemic without seeing their loved ones who live in care homes.
Now care home restrictions are set to be eased from Monday. But what are the rules for visiting people in care homes?
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How many people can visit?
Every care home resident can nominate up to three visitors. These visitors will be able to enter the care home for regular visits. However, in addition to the three visitors care home residents can also have visits from essential care givers and preschool aged children.
Plan ahead
The government advises visitors to make arrangements with care homes in advance of their visit, so not too many people visit the care homes at one time.
Testing
When visiting a care home, you must provide a negative lateral flow test and report the result on the day. This can be done at home or on arrival to the care home.
However, essential care givers need to follow additional rules including taking a weekly PCR test and take a minimum of three lateral flow tests a week.
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What happens during an outbreak?
During a Covid outbreak the government advises care homes to continue to offer visits in well-ventilated spaces with substantial screens, visiting pods or from behind windows.
What is going to change?
From Monday Covid restrictions in care homes are set to be eased.
Rules on the number of visitors allowed at care homes will be scrapped and self-isolation periods will be cut to 10 days from 14.
Care homes will also only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 days, instead of 28.
By Wednesday February 16, care workers will be asked to take a lateral flow test before shifts replacing the weekly asymptomatic PCR tests.
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