Care home restrictions in Scotland eased as isolation is cut and more visitors allowed

The Scottish government has announced most people discharged from hospitals to care homes will no longer need to isolate if they have had a negative PCR test in the previous 48 hours.

The isolation period for care home residents testing positive for COVID-19, or for close contacts of COVID cases, is also being cut from 14 days to 10 days to bring restrictions closer to those for the general public.

The measures are being taken in line with clinical and public health advice, recognising the high levels of vaccination in care homes and in the community.

Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said: “We know isolating for longer time periods can be distressing and harmful for care home residents and for their loved ones.

“Reducing the length of time care home residents have to isolate if they catch COVID, or are identified as close contacts, reflects the ongoing risks facing people who live communally, in a homely environment with other care home residents, many of whom have long term conditions.”

Residents who have been in hospital for acute overnight stays will also no longer need to isolate, and will not need a negative PCR test, provided there is no clinical reason to think that they have COVID.

’It is crucial care homes continue to support indoor visiting’

The First Minister also announced that from Monday 24 January the Scottish government will remove the guidance asking people to limit indoor gatherings to three households and recommend that there should be no set limits to the number of households visiting each resident. However, this should be assessed by care home staff to determine the number of visitors (including children) that a resident can have at any one time.

Mr Stewart added: “It is crucial that care homes continue to support indoor visiting. Yesterday the First Minister advised the lifting of guidance limiting the number of households meeting indoors.

“As before there should be no restrictions placed on frequency and duration of visiting which will be guided by care home arrangements and circumstances.”

To read our advice section regarding care home visiting guidance for the UK, click here