Details of when care home visits can resume ‘in the next few days’, says Hancock

By Gavin Cordon, Reporter10th July 2020News EnglandCare Homes, Coronavirus / Covid-19, Government / Politics, News England, Older People, Residential Care

Families will soon be able to start visiting relatives in care homes in England again, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.

Mr Hancock said the Government would be setting out details “in the next few days” of how Covid-secure visits can take place.

Care homes have been closed to non-essential visitors since March, but in an interview with ITV News Mr Hancock indicated that would soon be coming to an end.

“People are yearning to see their loved ones and the residents of care homes get so much from visitors,” he said.

“It’s been a very, very long period and that period where there hasn’t been any visiting to care homes, that’s coming to an end very soon.

“I very much hope that in the next few days we’ll be able to make this change. We’ve been very careful about it and we’ve got to get it right.

“We’ve got to make sure it works for each local area but I hope we can make that change very soon.”

His comments come after the Government set out plans for gyms, swimming pools, beauticians and tanning salons to reopen in the latest easing of the lockdown rules in England.