Families and friends reunited with care home residents as restrictions lifted
The rules surrounding care home visitors change from today
Whole families are getting ready to see their loved ones for the first time together, at a care home in Weymouth today.
Limits on the number of visitors to care homes in England are being lifted today.
Also care homes previously had to lockdown for 28 days after a positive case connected to the home, now, they'll only need to do so for two weeks.
Crecy Care Home in Weymouth says many of its residents are looking forward to being able to see their families altogether today.
Vicky Boursnell-Brooks is one of the managers there. She said:
"We've got families poised and ready to come in. I'm not sure who is more excited really us, the residents or their families?
"I think that the pandemic has taken away the personal touch, or the personal aspect of being able to visit ones loved ones.
"Obviously everybody is concerned about infection control, and we have to be really mindful of good infection control procedures but it also meant some of the love, comfort and kindness was missed.
"You couldn't just grab mum and give her a hug and a kiss like you would normally have done."
The rule changes come at time when COVID-19 cases are starting to rise again in both Dorset and BCP council areas.
Public Health Dorset are still urging people to consider wearing masks, testing and keeping indoor areas well ventilated to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Vicky says she's confident their measures are enough to keep people safe alongside today's rule change. She said:
"I think as long as you're confident in your infection control procedures, you make sufficient risk assessments to any gatherings of families and it is measured and controlled in a way that everybody knows, good hand hygiene, good PPE wearing - we know to be stringent with testing.
"We would want the best for anybody who we were visiting, so we wouldn't want to inadvertently put people at risk.
"I do think there may be some people who feel nervous about it, but we're confident to open our doors, we're looking forward to opening our doors, we are looking forward to welcoming people back into our homes.
"We've already done it, we did it throughout the pandemic, we wanted to keep that personal touch.
"This time now, at least you can see grandchildren and that is priceless to anybody, to see your immediate family all in one group is priceless to any resident."