Family and friends will be allowed to visit care home residents indoors from today and over Christmas if they get a negative result from a rapid coronavirus test, the government has said.
More than a million tests will be sent to care providers over the next month, along with more PPE supplies, and visitors may be able to hug loved ones if they follow guidance released yesterday.
This says that the risk of visits can be mitigated and must be balanced against the benefits they bring to residents and their families.
The guidelines say that if PPE is worn and other infection control measures are followed “it may be possible for visitors to have physical contact with their loved one, such as providing personal care,