Changes to visiting sheltered housing schemes

This follows a rise in the number of coronavirus cases across the borough and a decision taken last week to restrict visiting to care homes.

The council has now taken the decision to also limit the people who can visit residents in any of the borough’s 11 council-run sheltered housing schemes.

From Monday, only essential visitors, including care providers, will be allowed on the premises. Only emergency repairs will be completed and mobile hairdressers and cleaners will not be allowed into the buildings.

As before, each sheltered housing scheme will be treated as a bubble and although residents will be able to move freely within the buildings, they will be asked to adhere to the latest social distancing guidelines at all times.

Staff will continue to carry out daily wellbeing calls to check how residents are.

Councillor Laura Taylor, cabinet member for housing and community services, said:

Following the implementation of stricter lockdowns in neighbouring authorities, and considering that nationally cases of coronavirus are rising, we have to respond to the changing situation now and ensure we are doing what we can to protect the residents within our sheltered housing schemes.

This is a precautionary measure and our staff will continue to support residents as they have done from the very beginning of this pandemic. They will keep them updated as the situation changes and ensure touch points within the buildings are cleaned regularly to keep everybody safe.