Care home residents will be allowed unlimited numbers of visitors from today as strict Covid rules are eased in England.
Restrictions brought in to halt the Omicron surge in December are being eased, in a major boost to families.
Self-isolation periods have also been reduced from 14 days to 10 for those who test positive, with further reductions if residents get negative tests on days five and six.
Care home staff will be asked to do lateral flow tests before their shifts instead of weekly PCR tests under from February 16.
Residents won't be required to test and self-isolate after normal days out.
It comes after face masks and Covid passes for large venues were no longer legally required in England as the Government's "Plan B" rules were ditched.
The Government first axed restrictions on care home visits in November but it then brought back a limit to three named visitors, plus an essential caregiver, tackle soaring Omicron cases.
Health 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 three named visitors and an essential care giver under Plan B measures.
“Thanks to the progress we have made, I am delighted that care home restrictions can now be eased further allowing residents to see more of their loved ones.”
Homes currently battling with outbreaks will not be able to lift restrictions immediately and there are concerns others may continue to restrict visits or not have enough staff to cope with an increase in visitors.
Jenny Morrison, co-founder of the campaign group Rights for Residents, says they "remain fearful" for residents in homes which have not followed previous guidance instructing them to relax visiting policies.
Care homes have been governed by tough rules throughout the pandemic after the virus ripped through vulnerable residents in the first wave of the pandemic.
But ministers decided to ease the restrictions as 86.5% of residents have now had a booster vaccination.
Full guidance on the care home rules is yet to be published.
