Pubs fill up in Bolton but its care home residents are denied right to five visitors

Pubs and restaurants in Bolton and elsewhere across England can now serve people indoors from today, as part of the easing of lockdown restrictions but care home residents in the town are being denied their right to have five visitors by the local council.

Step three of the government’s roadmap for England allows care home residents to have up to five named visitors from 17 May but a rise in the number of people catching an Indian variant of Covid-19 in Bolton - considered a more infectious ‘variant of concern’- has meant many of the town's care home residents will not get five visitors.

Care homes in Bolton have been told to stick to a two visitor limit by councillors who have written to all care homes in the area asking them not to follow Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s roadmap for easing restrictions in England.

There are 35 care homes for older adults in Bolton, according to the council's website.

Stick to two visitors 'for at least the next two weeks'

Andy Morgan is the Bolton Conservative councillor for Heaton & Lostock and also operates a care home in Bolton.

Cllr Morgan, who is the managing director of Morgan Care Ltd, has said that although the government is allowing care homes to increase visits to five named people from today, Bolton Council has advised care homes against it.

Cllr Morgan told the Guardian: “we in Bolton have given guidance to our care homes saying we don't think they should implement that guidance and should stick to two named people for at least the next two weeks until we know what's going on with the variants.”

A rise in cases of the Indian variant in the town has not, however, stopped all pubs, cafes and restaurants and other indoor venues opening in Bolton today, sparking criticism that care home residents are being unfairly penalised.

In Bolton and elsewhere in England, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants are allowed to serve customers indoors from today. Up to six customers per table are allowed from up to six households, or up to 10 people from the same household. Indoor entertainment in England such as museums, theatres, concert halls, cinemas, indoor children's play areas, conference centres and sports stadiums have also reopened

Up to six people or two households can meet indoors with overnight stays allowed.

Indoor adult exercise classes have restarted, steam rooms and saunas are open and hotels, hostels and B&Bs are welcoming customers. International travel is also allowed and up to 30 people can attend weddings, receptions and other life events.

Bolton Council pleads with government 'do not lock us down'

In Bolton, Public Health England figures to date show the transmission rate in the borough stands at 274 per 100,000 people - the national average rate for England is 22 per 100,000.

More than 6,200 people were vaccinated in Bolton at the weekend to protect themselves following a surge in infections in April of the B.1.617.2 variant.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that a local lockdown in the town had not been ruled out.

In response, the leader of Bolton Council, Cllr David Greenhalgh said: “Yes, our rates of the Indian Variant are going up, but while hospitalisations remain low and all evidence points to the effectiveness of the vaccine, the administration’s message to Government is ‘do not lock us down. Do not take us out of the road map.”

While Bolton council urges the government “do not lock us down. Do not take us out of the road map”, the council is effectively locking down care home residents and taking them out of the government’s road map for easing restrictions.

Government care home guidance still advises against hugs

According to government guidelines, vaccination of residents or visitors is still not a condition of visiting but the government recommends that all visitors and residents get vaccinated when they are invited to do so.

People visiting care home residents will need to have tested negative for COVID-19 before they come inside.

The government advises visitors 'should minimise physical contact with residents' but residents and visitors may hold hands but should still avoid close physical contact such as hugging.

Visitors must also observe strict social distancing from other residents, visitors and staff.

While five named visitors are allowed for each care home resident from 17 May, a maximum of two visitors will be allowed at any one time (limits do not apply for very young children or essential care givers).

From 17 May, activities outside of a care home that will no longer require self-isolation on a care home resident’s return include trips to parks, gardens, beaches, GPs, dentists, medical appointments, a workplace, educational setting and day centres.

The period for a Covid-19 outbreak in a care home has changed from 28 days to 14 days after the last positive case (assuming there are no variants of concern identified).

Outdoor, pod, screen and window visits can continue (under the same rules in place during lockdown) this means residents can see more than just the people they nominate.

To read more about the latest care home visiting guidance for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland click here