Joy and tears as care home residents get to hug relatives for first time in months

The Telegraph published this video item, entitled “Joy and tears as care home residents get to hug relatives for first time in months” – below is their description.

Bob Underhill, 84, was able to hug his 82-year-old wife Patricia for the first time in months in her care home in London on Wednesday after he tested negative for coronavirus.

“I’ve only seen her twice since March because they had a shutdown here, and we just had to sit and wait,” Mr Underhill said.

The emotional visit came after the Government announced that relatives of all care home residents in England are now able to visit them over the Christmas period if they test negative for Covid-19.

More than a million tests are being sent to care home providers over the next month which will enable safe indoor visits, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.

The DHSC stressed that visitors should minimise contact as much as possible and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to help protect their loved ones.

But its guidance says hand holding and hugging may be possible if other infection control measures are followed.

The DHSC said more than a million lateral flow tests, providing rapid results so visits can be tested on arrival, are being sent out to the country’s 385 biggest care homes.

The number of test kits will allow up to two visitors per resident, based on them visiting twice a week.

Serena Snelling was also able to hug her mother Theresa in her care home on Wednesday after she tested negative for coronavirus.

“Well obviously she’s my mum, we’ve been close for our whole lives. So it’s going to be really nice to be able to give her a hug and a proper hug because we were very huggy before,” Ms Snelling said before she went in to embrace her mother.

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