Some Welsh care homes may still require people visiting relatives or friends to wear masks \u2013 depending on the level of risk to residents.<\/p>\n
That was the message from Care Forum Wales, which represents nearly 500 social care providers, after the Welsh Government revealed they were lifting all remaining Covid restrictions.<\/p>\n
Chief executive Mary Wimbury said there was still \u201cnervousness\u201d in the sector because they were looking after extremely vulnerable people whose health and wellbeing was paramount.<\/p>\n
The Welsh Government said the public health situation had continued to improve over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
Until now Wales was the last part of the UK with Covid restrictions still in place but<\/p>\n
the Welsh Government said the public health situation had continued to improve over the last few weeks.<\/p>\n
However, guidance will remain in place strongly recommending the use of face coverings in health settings to help protect the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n
Ms Wimbury said: \u201cI think the lifting of restrictions is a step back to the normality that everyone wants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s going to be a mixture of emotions. There will be delight for people who are going to be able to see people\u2019s smiles again in care homes in a way they haven\u2019t been able to for over two years but there\u2019s also going to be a level of nervousness.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s impossible to overestimate the trauma that people in the sector\u00a0 have gone through so it is going to have to be risk assessed in each setting, depending on people\u2019s vulnerabilities and how you manage it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was talking to a domiciliary care provider who was saying that sometimes you are going into people\u2019s homes where there are a lot of people coming in and out not wearing masks and it\u2019s going to be great for staff not to have to, through the summer particularly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are other people you\u2019re visiting where they are very vulnerable and they are isolating and not seeing anyone and they are going to want you to still wear a mask.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always been about finding the right balance. We understand why the restrictions have continued because of the vulnerabilities of people living in care settings.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s an individual so those vulnerabilities vary but if you\u2019re going into someone\u2019s own home, that\u2019s their choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re going into somewhere that is the home of a number of people, then you have to balance those risks to everybody.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we have had different requirements for seeing care home residents in their rooms as opposed to a communal area during the last period.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy understanding is that the guidance is going to give us a steer on risk assessments and it is going to be for each provider to risk assess.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may be there will be different requirements in different areas of the home.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we can say across the piece is that this is an opportunity\u00a0 to move back towards normality but to do that safely.\u201d<\/p>\n