VISITS to elderly relatives and friends across care homes and supported living schemes in North Yorkshire are to be limited in a bid to save lives as part of a clampdown amid rising Covid-19 infection rates.

From October 1 the county council is urging care providers to stop routine visits for a month. It's part of the call to arms by North Yorkshire's Local Resilience Forum to 'Act Now and Save Lives' and halt the resurgence of the virus.

Last week, homes in Harrogate,Scarborough and Selby, were advised to restrict, visiting and that has now been extended across the county.

Families and friends will still be able to visit loved ones at the end of their lives and essential visits by NHS and social care practitioners will still take place as long as national rules around hand-washing, face masks, PPE, distancing and other requirements are followed.

Director of Health Richard Webb said: "We know how much these visits mean to residents and families and how important they are to people’ mental and physical well-being.

"We are seeing infection rates rising across the county, including household and community transmission. Whilst we are working hard to contain and manage outbreaks, including within the care sector, the overall rates within the community are worrying.

"We are making this recommendation with great regret. However, it is important that we follow Public Health advice and act now as cases and hospital admissions increase."

Mr Webb said they would prefer to have a local approach which could test regular visitors but because of issues in the national programme they can't guarantee that and so are recommending the tougher clampdown on visits.

Care homes will be encouraged to allow window visits for all residents so family members, friends and residents can still see each other, alongside greater use of phones and social media.

They're also advising care home residents continue to make trips into the community, especially outdoors and with masks. Special Covid-19 payments will be extended into October with PPE provided free.

Mike Padgham, chair of The Independent Care Group, said: "It is regrettable that home visits have to stop but we have to do everything we can to prevent the spread of coronavirus to the older and vulnerable people we care for.

Covid-19 has taken a terrible toll in homes and we support everything that can be done to prevent a second wave taking hold. We are also aware of the harm lack of contact is doing to residents and families and hope we can work with the authority to find new and innovative ways to enable contact as soon as it's safe to do. We are grateful for the county council's support and the financial aid it is providing to providers as we all work together to protect those most susceptible from this dreadful virus."