The pandemic has been tough on people in care homes, but there has now been a change in the rules.
The coronavirus is harmful to those considered more vulnerable to the virus, and this can include people in care homes and the elderly.
Some of the strictest restrictions were in place to stop Covid's Omicron variant from spreading, and this raised further concerns over loneliness as many were unable to visit loved ones in care homes.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there are around 490,000 people in care homes in England alone and approximately another 70,000 in the rest of the UK.
From midnight on Monday Plan B restrictions expired - so what are the new rules?
What are the new rules for people in care homes?
In a bid to move ahead with living with the virus, the government announced an end to Plan B restrictions from January 26.
Care home rules will change from today, January 31.
Loneliness and visiting loved ones in care homes has been difficult for a lot of people during the pandemic, but from January 31 "there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes".
Meanwhile, self-isolation periods are reduced from 14 to 10 days for people who test positive for the virus, while residents do not have to test and self-isolate after days out.
There is a further reduction if people test negative on days five and six.
Previously, care homes had to follow outbreak management rules for 28 days; this has been halved to 14 days.
Another small change applies to February 16, from which care workers will be required to use lateral flow tests before their shifts. This replaces the current system where a weekly PCR was needed.
Homes currently battling outbreaks cannot lift restrictions immediately.
Are the changes to care homes safe?
The government hopes that the vaccine roll-out and falling number of Omicron cases will allow for the changes.
62,399 confirmed cases were reported for January 30.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: "I know how vital companionship is to those living in care homes and the positive difference visits make, which is why we continued to allow 3 named visitors and an essential care giver under Plan B measures.
"It has been stressed that care homes can make their own rules if they are concerned about outbreaks and the virus spreading.
"If a care home needs to act differently because of an outbreak, then that is understandable as long as they are doing everything they can to allow the maximum number of visitors," the Health Secretary added.
Co-founder of the campaign group Rights for Residents, Jenny Morrison, said they "remain fearful" for residents in homes that have not followed previous guidance instructing them to relax visiting policies.
And Normandie Wragg, CEO of Nugent Care, told the Mirror: "We welcome the opportunity for families to see more of each other. Our diligent and compassionate home managers and their teams will continue to be alert and agile on their constant assessment of infection risk balanced and increased visitors in homes."
