Families will have to wait for care home restrictions to ease
Care home residents will not be able to see their relatives for at least three weeks as restrictions will not be eased in phase one of the lockdown recovery.
Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership ( HSCP) says homes in the area will not allow families to take part in the socially distant visiting currently permitted in private gardens and outdoor spaces.
The authority confirmed the news on Friday, the same day families across Renfrewshire enjoyed being reunited after two months apart.
The partnership said that speculation about visiting resuming at care homes was wrong as it stated a further two people have died after falling ill with coronavirus.
The two newly recorded deaths takes the total number of fatalities in Renfrewshire care homes to 110.
A further 14 residents at seven care homes are currently displaying symptoms of the disease or have tested positive, a marked decrease from 35 the previous week.
Across the local authority area 177 people have died of Covid-19.
A spokesman for Renfrewshire HSCP said: “We understand the vulnerable nature of any care home environment and the safety of residents is always our highest priority.
“A phased resumption of visiting to care homes is being considered within phase two of the Scottish Government’s route map through and out of the crisis, so there will be no immediate changes to visitor access at the care homes operated by the HSCP.
“However, we are preparing for visitor access with designated family members, on a phased approach once national guidance is in place and it is safe to do so.
“This means visits would be considered in care homes that have been free of infection for 14 days and under tightly controlled conditions.
“Initially this would include outdoor visits, as well as making sure all precautions are closely followed, including social distancing, correct use of PPE and regular hand washing.”
Coronavirus testing is continuing to take place at homes in the local authority area and is currently underway at 17 sites.
Papers put before Friday’s meeting of Renfrewshire Council’s
Emergencies Board also confirmed one care home is continuing efforts to fight a significant outbreak of the disease.
The two deaths to take place at care homes are this week among the first to be reported to the procurator fiscal.
It comes after the Lord Advocate told all medical practitioners that as of May 21, they must refer all Covid-19 deaths in care homes to the fiscal.
The move comes amidst growing public anxiety around deaths in care homes and Covid-19 deaths of those who work in the health sector.
A phased resumption of visiting to care homes is being considered within phase two of the route map