Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy reduce covid-19 restrictions for care homes.

We regularly review and update guidance to ensure it is necessary and proportionate, considering clinical advice and priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and ensuring residents have meaningful contact with loved ones. The restrictions are currently in place to keep care home residents safe and will be removed as soon as it is safe to do so.

We are currently reviewing our guidance in light of the lifting ‘Plan B’ measures and expect to publish updated advice shortly.