Wearing masks in care homes will no longer be mandatory as Britain continues to live with Covid.
The new rules will see homes given autonomy over when masks should be worn, and outbreak measures deployed, with individual risk assessments. The new guidance makes clear they should only be worn when necessary.
The darkest days of the pandemic are thankfully behind us, and for most people, Covid restrictions are a memory and life is back to normal – but not for those in care homes or being cared for at home.
For them, many of the people they see are still wearing masks, it’s a barrier to communication, and it gets in the way of a smile that could brighten the day.
Masks make it hard to understand what people are saying, and for people with hearing impairments, makes it impossible to lip-read.
Well, that’s now about to change, wearing masks in care homes will no longer be mandatory, the new guidance makes clear they should only be worn when necessary.
I know the staff will welcome the chance to – once again – to give the people they care for a simple but precious thing, a smile!
