The Social Welfare Department said on Friday that visiting restrictions at care homes for the elderly and the disabled will be relaxed from May 10.
Visitors should make appointments with the institutions prior to their visits.
For those who were fully vaccinated - received the full two-dose vaccination and waited 14 days for antibodies to develop - they are required to present a negative
COVID-19 test obtained within 72 hours before their visit or provide a negative
COVID-19 rapid antigen test result within 24 hours before the visit.
The rapid antigen test products must be of those designated by the government. Visitors must also bring along a photo of the visitor being tested with the negative result and the date and time of the test shown in it, together with the product insert and packing of the rapid antigen test kit used, to give to the staff members of the institutions for checking.
For those who have not been vaccinated or have only receive the first jab, they are required to present a negative
COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours before the visit.
However, the department said those who have not undergone
Covid testing and need to pay urgent visits for compassionate reasons can still proceed. Those visitors must provide a negative
COVID-19 test result within two days after the visit.
A department spokesman said Institutions must take prudent and effective measures to reduce infection risks.
“Visitors before entering the institutions should also have their body temperature checked, perform hand hygiene and wear surgical masks. Also, residents should wear surgical masks and eye protection as far as practicable,” the spokesman added.
