People living in Bolton could soon be able to visit family in care homes, according to the Town Hall.
Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, restrictions in Greater Manchester have meant that care home residents can only have visitors in 'exceptional circumstances'.
Councils across Greater Manchester, including Bolton Council, have pushed for the definition of 'exceptional circumstances' to take into account the negative impact that a long period without receiving visitors can have on care home residents.
Window visits or visits in a garden pod can now continue, where an appropriate and robust risk assessment is in place, it has been confirmed.
Visits will be limited to family members or a nominated carer and individual care homes will be responsible for carrying out a risk assessment.
Documents will be reviewed and approved by infection control specialists and the Director of Public Health to support care homes to ensure they have the correct safety measures in place.
Coun Andy Morgan is Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Adult Services and is also managing director of Bakewells Care Home in Deane.
He said: "It has been a long and distressing period for both our care home residents and their relatives.
"Our priority is always the safety of those living in care homes, but that means looking after their mental wellbeing as well as their physical health.
"That is why we have pushed for this change in the rules which will allow residents to see their loved ones in a safe environment through closed window visits or visiting pods.
"With the current high rates of Covid-19 community transmission in Bolton it is important we do all we can to ensure safe arrangements for families to visit their loved ones"
