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A nursing home implemented rapid tests so that families could hug their loved ones on Christmas Day.
Aspen Hill Village in Hunslet, south of Leeds, conducted successful lateral flow tests, which allow people to receive results to show whether they have COVID-19 within 30 minutes.
Dozens of people in EPP were allowed to hug and chat with their elderly relatives
Dozens of people, wearing personal protective equipment, were allowed to hug and chat with their elderly relatives during a two-hour visiting period.
Michael McKimm was able to see his grandmother, Rose McKimm, for the first time since February.
Mary Orme (right) hugs her mother Rose McKimm after rapid lateral flow tests were implemented
He made the home visit with his mother Mary Orme, who was also able to see Mrs. McKimm on Christmas Eve.
“It was fantastic, it practically made Christmas for me just by seeing it, it was great,” he said.
“It was very emotional for my mother, she cried a lot.”
Navjot Singh, Director of Aspen Hill Village, said: “This year has been difficult for the entire country, but for people living in nursing homes or with their loved ones in nursing homes, it has been even more so.”
“For some of our residents, it has been more than nine months since they were able to hold hands or hug their loved ones.
Chris Mills hugs his mother Carol Roberts at the Aspen Hill Village nursing home
“This is why lateral flow testing, which allows us to screen visitors during the day to make sure they don’t have the virus, is so exciting.
“It means that today, on Christmas Day, we were able to gather more than 70 families for a much needed hug, cup of tea and talk.
“He has made everyone smile and ends a very difficult year at best.
“For our staff, who have done their best to make life as normal as possible for the people they care for, it represents a little hope that our residents will have more normalcy in 2021.”
Millions of people in the UK have to spend Christmas day away from their families this year after the appearance of a more transmissible variant the coronavirus meant that the rules had to be stricter.
Those who live in Level 4 areas in England cannot meet people outside their own home or bubble of support.
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People living in Level 1, 2 and 3 areas can form a “Christmas bubble” limited to three households on Christmas Day alone.
The latest government figures show that another 570 deaths, within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test, were recorded in England on Christmas Day.
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