From Monday 17 May care home residents will be able to have more named visitors and more opportunities to make visits out with no need to self-isolate when they return.
As part of step 3 of the roadmap, the number of named family members or friends able to visit their loved ones in care homes will be increased from two to five, as the visiting restrictions continue to ease. A maximum of two visitors will be allowed at any one time or on any given day.
This follows a reduction in Covid-19 cases and the ongoing successful vaccine rollout with 95% of older care home residents receiving their first jab.
Residents will also be able to go to medical appointments, a workplace, educational setting, and day centres without having to self-isolate on their return.
The period when a Covid-19 outbreak in a care home can be declared over will also change from 28 days to 14 days after the last positive case assuming there are no Variants of Concern (VOCs) identified.
This means visits can resume sooner following an outbreak, once the relevant testing has been completed and provided all staff and residents tested receive a negative result.
