Family members will soon be allowed to visit their loved ones in hospital following an announcement by the Health Secretary.
Jeane Freeman said it would be restricted to non-covid wards and would allow one named visitor into a ward.
It was announced recently that coronavirus-free care homes would be able to accept visitors from July 3rd.
Care homes have been badly hit by the virus and Freeman said the "significant progress" made in combating covid-19 made it possible to ease the restriction in that setting.
She said residents could have a single "key visitor" if their home has been virus-free for 28 days.
At the daily press briefing, Freeman said a similar easing would also apply to hospitals:
“Today I am pleased to be able to confirm that we can now allow visiting to non-covid areas in hospitals to resume safely, and on a phased basis, from July 13th.
“From that date, patients in non-covid 19 areas will be able to have a visit from one named visitor with visits agreed in advance through the ward they are visiting.”
Currently visits are only allowed if they are deemed to be “essential”, such as in end of life cases, or where children need to be accompanied.
Freeman said: "For patients in covid-19 wards only essential visits will be allowed."
She said visitors would need to wear face coverings, practice good hygiene, and abide by physical distancing rules.
