Only residents of working age should be allowed leave care homes for Christmas, according to Government guidance.
An exemption can be made in exceptional circumstances, such as visiting a loved one at the end of their life.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the risks are usually significantly greater for older people than for those of working age.
The guidance says that residents, their families and care homes should very carefully consider whether making visits out from the home is the best thing to do, or whether a visit at the care home would provide meaningful contact in a safer way.
Outward visits can take place in any tier as long as the resident and those they spend time with stick to the local rules at the time of the visit.
They will then need to isolate for 14 days upon their return to the care home.
The Government points out the importance of individual risk assessments due to some residents of working age being more vulnerable by virtue of underlying health conditions.
For the period of December 23 to 27, a resident on an outward visit should only mix with people from one household and should not become part of a three-household Christmas bubble.
All members of the household hosting the visit must have tested negative for Covid-19 immediately before the visit.
“When the resident returns to the care home following the visit, additional measures will need to be taken in order to protect other residents and care home staff from the risk of Covid transmission", the guidance says.
“Specifically, the resident will need to isolate for 14 days.
“Following this isolation period, assuming the resident shows no symptoms, the resident may return to the general community in the care home."
It adds: “Outward visits are an important part of life for many in residential care.
“Providers are best placed to define their overall policy for how outward visits are supported in the care home safely and in a way that takes into account the needs of their residents and what is possible within the facilities and resources of the care home.
“However, spending time with others outside the care home will increase risk of exposure to Covid for the resident and potentially to other vulnerable residents on their return.”
Vic Rayner, executive director at the National Care Forum (NCF), said: “The guidance sets out significant strictures and responsibilities for the delivery of this policy, for those living in care homes, their families and care providers, which in reality will mean that at this moment in time, the ability to use this may be limited.
“The policy intention of this is definitely positive, but the work that will go into making this a reality for individuals has not been recognised or addressed.”
Edel Harris, chief executive of the learning disability charity Mencap, said this guidance is a step forward for working-aged disabled adults living in care homes, but it “fails to give hope to thousands of people residing in supported living settings who are desperate to hug their family this Christmas”.
She added: “We urge the Government to expand testing for families and set out guidance on how the Christmas bubble policy will apply to disabled people who live in supported living settings to enable safe family contact this Christmas.
“Matt Hancock – please don’t cancel Christmas for thousands of people with a learning disability and their families.”
