Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether care homes are legally able to deny visits from family or friends if there are positive cases of covid-19 in that care home.

Most care homes are privately run and free to make their own decisions about access to their properties. Before making these decisions, providers should consider the rights and views of their residents and the contractual relationship.

Care homes and other providers of social care have legal duties to protect their staff and residents from infection and to provide quality care. Under powers granted by the Coronavirus Act 2020, access to premises can be restricted in certain circumstances if required to prevent the spread of the virus. When there are positive COVID-19 cases within a care home, the guidance states that every resident should be allowed an essential care giver to visit inside the care home. Window or pod visits can continue with other visitors.