The Social Welfare Department announced today the updated visit, virus testing and vaccination arrangements for residential care homes (RCHs), which take effect immediately.

The move was made in response to the Government’s earlier adjustments to anti-epidemic measures, including the removal of Vaccine Pass requirements.

The Vaccine Pass is no longer required for visitors and residents participating in outing activities, the department said.

Meanwhile, visitors to RCHs are still required to undergo a nucleic acid test within 48 hours prior to the visit and provide the negative test result.

For residents who have not received any COVID-19 vaccine or have received only one dose, a rapid antigen test (RAT) at a designated area of RCHs is required for their visitors who must present both the negative RAT result and the negative nucleic test result in order pay a visit.

For residents who have recovered from COVID-19 within three months (starting from the 14th day after receiving an infection confirmation), or residents who have had two jabs, or can produce medical certificates to prove their unsuitability for receiving COVID-19 vaccines due to health reasons, RCHs can suitably determine the number of visits for these residents based on the RCHs’ actual circumstances.

Care homes should limit the number of visits to not more than twice a week if residents have received zero or one COVID-19 vaccine dose, the department noted.

Separately, the department announced that COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all staff members in RCHs for the elderly and the disabled have been removed.

However, care home staff are still required to conduct RATs as well as undergo compulsory nucleic tests once every two days.

Regarding new RCH residents, the vaccination requirement remains unchanged, ie people newly admitted to RCHs for long-term abode must have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to be admitted, unless with a medical exemption.

In order to remain eligible for residing in RCHs, newly admitted residents who have only received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine are still required to complete the vaccination course within the specified period, counting from the day when the first dose is received, the department added.