The government has announced the easing of Covid-19 curbs at residential care homes, saying residents can go out in groups under "closed-loop" arrangements starting Monday.

The rule allowing only one visitor per resident at a time will also be lifted.

In a statement, the Social Welfare Department said it decided to relax the rules as most care home residents and workers have been vaccinated against Covid. Officials also said they had taken into account the "benefits of visits and social activities to the physical and mental well-being of residents".

The department said dedicated transport should be arranged to take residents and staff to and from designated locations. They also have to follow pre-arranged itineraries.

Crowded areas and mask-off activities, such as eating and drinking, should be avoided, it added.

The authorities will also allow residents to have more than one visitor at a time, but said care homes should set an appropriate number of visitors allowed – depending on the space available at the facilities – to avoid overcrowding.

Visitors will still need to comply with the vaccine pass requirements and produce a negative result of a PCR test done 48 hours before the visit.