Changes are coming tomorrow for residents of long-term care facilities.

Health Minister John Haggie says each resident will now be allowed two support persons who can visit.

Residents will once again be allowed to leave the facility for family outings and visitation, in addition to medical appointments. However, it is strongly encouraged that those who do leave the facility go to the household of someone on their visitors list.

Haggie says group activities can resume in long-term care, except for events involving the sharing of food. However, residents of a particular floor, unit, or wing can eat together without the need to distance.

As well, hairstyling can resume in the facilities, and volunteers can return, provided that those people are fully vaccinated and follow public health guidelines.

As for what is different now for government to allow the changes, Haggie says the answer is simple:

Vaccination. He says there has been a significant uptake in boosters, which has provided the extra layer of protection needed.