Residents at a Harrogate care home have been left furious at new covid guidance which means they have to isolate for two weeks after stepping outside their front door.
The guidance published by government says residents should only leave care homes for medical appointments or in exceptional circumstances, such as visiting someone at the end of their life.
It adds that, if a resident does leave their home, then they should isolate for 14 days when they return.
But residents at Claro Road care home, which is run by Disability Action Yorkshire and cares for younger adults with physical disabilities, have said they will defy the guidance as it is a “clear breach” of their human rights.
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Jackie Snape, chief executive of the charity, has written to Harrogate MP, Andrew Jones, to warn him that he will receive furious e-mails as a result of the guidance.
She said:
“For the people that live at 34 Claro Road this is devastating. They are young people who just want to have the same freedoms as everyone else.
“They are seeing pictures of groups enjoying a beer outside the pub and they are being told they can’t even go for a walk around the block.
“They have all had both vaccinations, have individual risk assessments and know the importance of hands, face, space (and fresh air!).
“They, and we, feel this is a breach of their human rights. They have had an awful year. Not only have they been locked down, they have been locked down in an environment with people they have not chosen to live with and their main interactions each day is with staff wearing masks.
“As the rest of society is easing out of lockdown and enjoying fewer restrictions, our care home residents are having even more imposed on them.”
Mrs Snape added that Mr Jones has been invited to the care home to meet some of the residents.
