Isolation rule relaxed for care home visits

SOCIAL care isolation rules have been cut over concerns about staff shortages and problems discharging patients from hospital.

Previously, if a care home had at least two Covid cases, control measures – such as blocking new admissions and indoor visitors except those with essential caregiver status – were put in place for 28 days.

This has now been halved to 14 days, in a move which will allow more family members to visit loved ones and help NHS services safely discharge patients.

It comes with services experiencing staff isolating or off sick with Covid, increased outbreaks, problems with accessing tests and delayed results.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the change will be kept under review. A spokesman said: “Throughout the pandemic we have done everything we can to protect those receiving care, with the measures based on the latest scientific and expert advice.

“A change has been made to outbreak restrictions, reducing the period from 28 to 14 days.

“We keep these measures under constant review to ensure we continue to protect the lives, health and wellbeing of residents, and fully recognise the impact of isolation and the importance of companionship on physical and mental wellbeing.”

Stephen Chandler, president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, said providers across England had been reporting absences of between five and 10 per cent of their workforce.