Isolation rules change so care homes can now reopen two weeks after Covid outbreak

Isolation rules have now changed for care homes in England so they only have to close to new residents and visitors for 14 days after a Covid outbreak, which is defined as two or more cases.

Formerly, care homes had to shut their doors to new residents and visitors for a full 28 days after one case of Covid.

The change has been made to help ease the pressure in hospitals where there are thousands of patients who are fit to be discharged, but are still stuck there due to a shortage of care home beds, as well as to stop residents being isolated from their family and friends.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Throughout the pandemic we have done everything we can to protect those receiving care with the measures in place based on the latest scientific and expert advice.

“A change has been made to outbreak restrictions reducing the period from 28 to 14 days in line with this advice.”

He added: “We keep these measures under constant review to ensure we continue to protect the lives, health and wellbeing of residents and fully recognise the impact of isolation and the importance of companionship on physical and mental wellbeing.”

Martin Green, chief executive of Care England welcomed the change in policy, saying: “As the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care, Care England is glad that the government has listened to us and amended the parameters for classifying a Covid outbreak within a care home.

“The Omicron virus is affecting over a third of care homes, but there are encouraging signs from the data that the impact of this new variant is not as severe as in the previous waves of the pandemic.

"Staffing remains the most critical issue for social care and Care England will continue to push for a very swift response to changing guidance when it is appropriate, and when the data leads us in that direction.”