Can you visit people in hospital? When will hospitals allow visitors again, as care home Covid rules eased

England is dropping Covid Plan B restrictions from Thursday (27 January), instead returning to Plan A measures.

But what will end as part of the restrictions lifting and can you visit people in hospital?

Here’s what you need to know.

What measures are being lifted?

Plan B restrictions are being lifted, which means there will no longer be the mandatory requirement to wear face masks in indoor public places and on public transport, and Covid passports are to be scrapped.

However, people are still advised to wear coverings in enclosed or crowded spaces and when meeting strangers.

The Government has also dropped its advice for people to work from home.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the Government intended to end the legal requirement for people who test positive for Covid to self-isolate and replace it with advice and guidance.

The current regulations around self-isolation expire on 24 March and he said he expected not to renew them then, suggesting that date could be brought forward if the data allows.

Can I visit people in hospital?

Visiting people in hospital in England is allowed, but some hospitals or wards within a hospital may still have restrictions on visiting depending on the Covid status and their individual policies, so it’s worth checking this before you visit.

Can I visit people in care homes?

Limits on numbers of visitors to care homes in England will be scrapped from 31 January, with those living in care homes to be allowed to receive unlimited visits from family and friends.

Self-isolation periods in care homes will be cut from 14 days to 10 days for those who test positive for Covid.

Homes will also only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days.

In line with the wider public, people can also be released from isolation early if they test negative on days five and six.

Testing or self-isolation requirements following normal visits out will also be removed.

By Wednesday 16 February, care workers will also be asked to use lateral flow tests before their shifts, replacing the current system which included the use of weekly asymptomatic PCR tests.