Health minister Robin Swann has confirmed the further relaxation of restrictions around visiting care homes in Northern Ireland.

Visits remain limited to two households per day, but there will no longer be a restriction on the number of people who may visit and overnight stays will now be facilitated for care home residents.

Visitors are still being asked to wear face coverings, have good hand hygiene and take lateral flow tests. Independent care homes will be following advice from the Department of Health.

Before this, the guidance was a maximum of four people from no more than two households at any one visit and a maximum of four visits per week.

“This is a positive step forward and something that I know people have been wanting to see for some time,” said Swann. “It is down to the effectiveness of our Covid-19 vaccination programme and the reduced threat from the Omicron variant that we have been able to progress to the next step of the pathway.

“However, it’s important that we remain mindful of the risk that Covid presents and that visitors should continue to follow the public health advice. We would ask visitors to continue to wear face coverings, maintain good hand hygiene and take lateral flow tests regularly.”

Some private care homes are also deciding to restrict visitors

It has also been confirmed that the care partners scheme will be extended to hospitals and hospices.

The care partner initiative, which was introduced in late 2020, allows a designated relative or carer to provide additional support to a resident.