Can I see my mum in her care home now, and are pools safe?

Q I want to visit my mum in her care home – do I need to take any special precautions?

A At long last, thousands of care home residents are set to be reunited with relatives, after the Government gave the green light for visits to begin again.

However, this does not mean a complete return to normality.

It will ultimately be down to local health bosses to decide if and how visits can take place, and you will need to check with the care home before visiting on any measures they have put in place. Many homes will have an appointment booking system, to ensure numbers are kept to a minimum.

New official guidance states families should nominate a ‘single constant visitor’ per resident in order to limit the risk of infection spreading and keep footfall down.

This means that the same person should visit the care home resident every time, if possible.

The visits may need to take place in a communal garden or outdoor area – where the chances of transmitting the virus are lower.

Visitors will be encouraged to wear face coverings, to wash their hands regularly and maintain social-distancing, keeping at least one metre away from others not in their household. Hugs and handshakes should be avoided.

If you want to bring a gift, check with the care home first. It’s likely that it will need to be something which is easy to sanitise – such as a box of chocolates – instead of a bunch of flowers.

Q Can you catch Covid in a swimming pool?

A Evidence suggests that chlorine in swimming pools will kill off any coronavirus that makes its way into the water. In fact, according to The Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group, chlorine in a well-maintained pool should ‘deactivate the virus within 15-30 seconds’. If someone splutters while swimming past you, it is possible that you could be exposed to the virus. But facilities should have measures in place to stop this from happening – including limits on the number of people allowed in the pool at one time and widened lanes. Avoid changing rooms if you can – arrive dressed for your swim and shower at home afterwards – as we know that the virus spreads more easily in enclosed indoor spaces like this.