Families of care home residents have welcomed the relaxation of Covid rules that start tomorrow.
From now on there is no cap on the number of visitors, ending the limit of three per resident introduced to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant.
Self-isolation periods will be reduced from 14 to 10 days for those who test positive, with further reductions if they test negative on days five and six.
Graham Barlow, whose 94-year-old father George has been a resident at care homes in Trafford, Manchester, for five years, was only able to speak to his dad behind a glass screen at the height of the pandemic.
Visits were limited to 30 minutes and George, who lives with dementia, struggled to use the intercom.
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George caught Covid and medics told Graham he might not survive, but he pulled through.
Graham said: “In recent months we have had face-to-face visits after a lateral flow but it’s just the three named people, which is me, my brother and sister.
"Now his grandchildren will be able to go and see him, or my wife.
“It will be great if they lift everything, although I’ll still wear a mask.”
Pauline Kirk, whose sister Trish Allen, 86, lives in a nursing home, said: “I am thrilled the rules have been relaxed.”
She said of Bowfell House, in Trafford, Gtr Manchester, where her sister lives: “From the get-go we’ve wanted our relatives to be safe, and that’s what Bowfell has wanted.”
The change is the latest cut to England’s Plan B curbs.
By February 16 care workers will take lateral flow tests before shifts, replacing the current weekly PCRs.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I know how vital companionship is to those living in care homes.”
The Government says 86.5% of care home residents have had a booster.
