Care home rules: what are the new changes for visitors and staff as Covid social care restrictions ease?

From Monday 31 January care home residents will be able to have unlimited visitors as restrictions to reduce Covid ease.

Currently only three named people are able to visit residents regularly.

The easing also coincides with the opening up of England from Thursday (27 January) with face masks no longer legally required in any setting and venues no longer having to use the NHS COVID pass system.

What are the new care home rules?

Alongside unlimited visitors, from Monday 31 January, the self-isolation periods will be cut from 14 days to 10 for those who do test positive for the virus.

Care homes will have to follow outbreak management rules for 14, rather than 28, days.

By Wednesday 16 February, care workers will be asked to take lateral flow tests before their shifts, replacing the current system of weekly PCR tests.

Why is the government easing restrictions?

Government data shows 86.5% of care home residents have had their booster jab, encouraging Downing Street to ease restrictions on the sector.

Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary, said: "I know how vital companionship is to those living in care homes and the positive difference visits make, which is why we continued to allow three named visitors and an essential care giver under Plan B measures.

"Thanks to the progress we have made, I am delighted that care home restrictions can now be eased further allowing residents to see more of their loved ones."

The UK’s other nations are also moving to less stringent restrictions, but are not opening up to the level of England.

What were the previous rules?

In December, it was announced care home residents were only allowed three visitors to protect them from the highly infectious Omicron variant.

The government said it changed the rules for care home visits "to balance the current Covid-19 risk and the need to keep people safe in line with clinical advice".

Staff testing was also increased to three lateral flow tests per week, as well as a weekly PCR.

Now staff will be asked to take lateral flow tests before their shifts.

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