Visitor testing offers hope for care homes

RELATIVES of care home residents are to be offered Covid tests so they can safely visit loved ones, under plans to reunite families in December.

Long-promised Government pilot schemes will launch at 20 care homes on Monday, after a campaign by charities to end restrictions.

Under current rules, visitors can often only see loved ones through “prison-style” screens, or windows.

Other homes only allow outdoor or drive-through visits, or have banned visiting totally.

Ministers had promised pil ot schemes to give regular testing to family or friends of those in care homes, and set out plans for a national roll-out next month, but there have been delays getting the programme off the ground.

Last night, Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said the pilot schemes will launch in Hampshire, Cornwall and Devon on Monday.

He said: “I know how heartbreaking restricting visits to care homes has been, not only for residents, many of whom will feel disoriented and confused … but also their loved ones who aren’t able to simply hug each other to support them in this difficult time.”

However, Mr Hancock stressed the national roll-out of the scheme before Christmas would only be possible if the public played its part in adhering to lockdown, to bring transmission down.

Regular testing will be offered to one family member or friend per resident, allowing indoor visits without a screen to take place. Visitors will be offered either tests that they can do at home, or new 30-minute rapid lateral flow tests which can be administered at care homes before a visit.

Helen Whately, the care minister, said: “The pandemic has torn many lives apart but few have been more affected than people living in care homes and their families.

“I know visits from loved ones are what makes life worth living for many residents, yet these have been few and far between over the last few months.

“As Christmas approaches, I want to help care homes bring families and loved ones together. The launch of visitor testing is a crucial step.”

Health officials said the pilot was possible thanks to an expansion in the country’s testing capacity, now standing at over 500,000 per day.

Each care home receiving lateral flow tests will receive a box of 675 and will be given access to more as required.

The pilot schemes are taking place in local authorities with lower transmission rates to ensure it can be done as safely as possible.