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Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Visiting Care Homes – Outside Visitors Allowed From 3 July

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Phased reintroduction of family visiting and communal activities for residents.

Care home residents will be able to receive visitors outside from 3 July, provided their home meets strict criteria, with infection control measures remaining in place.

Guidance published today confirms that the next phase of visiting will include outdoor meetings with a single nominated visitor and that face coverings must be worn for the visitโ€™s duration.

Currently, only essential visits, including those involving end of life care are permitted.

The guidance builds up to a fourth and final phase of reintroduction which will include controlled indoor visits and wider use of communal areas by residents, with appropriate measures still being observed.

A care home will only be able to permit visiting or relax arrangements for communal activities if they have been COVID-free throughout the pandemic or if all affected residents have fully recovered and no residents have had symptoms for 28 days.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said:

โ€œI fully appreciate that the necessary restrictions placed on care homes have been challenging for the people living in care homes, their loved ones, and the staff.

โ€œCare homes are first and foremost peopleโ€™s homes, and it is now important that we find safe ways for residents to reconnect with their families and friends.

โ€œSignificant progress is being made and we are continuing to see improvements with fewer care homes currently having an infection.

โ€œOn that basis, we can now see a phased return to visiting in care homes when and where it is clinically safe to do so.

โ€œIt is crucial that we do this incrementally and proceed with real caution to protect vulnerable residents and staff.

โ€œOnly outside visiting with a named key visitor using appropriate physical distancing and safety measures can be permitted from 3 July.

โ€œWhen the scientific advice states that it is safe to do so, we can then gradually open up further visiting options.

โ€œTodayโ€™s publication will be important news for families with loved ones in care homes.

โ€œI recognise how long people have been waiting to see their friends and families and I hope to be able to offer further updates in the coming weeks in order to reconnect even more loved ones.โ€

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