Can I visit someone who is dying during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Hospitals, care homes and hospices may still have rules in place for visiting, such as limits on numbers of visitors, wearing PPE, and requiring you to take a COVID-19 test before you go. Check before you visit as restrictions will vary.

For general guidance about visiting someone in hospital:

• England: NHS: Visiting someone in hospital
• Northern Ireland: Department of Health: COVID-19 - visiting in care settings in Northern Ireland
• Scotland: Scottish Government - Coronavirus hospital visiting guidance
• Wales: Gov.Wales: Hospital visiting during the Coronavirus outbreak.

For general guidance about visiting someone in a care home:

• England: Gov.UK: Guidance on care home visiting
• Northern Ireland: Department of Health: COVID-19 - visiting in care settings in Northern Ireland
• Scotland: NHS Inform: Guidance for visiting loved ones in an adult care home
• Wales: Gov.Wales: Care homes visiting - guidance for visitors

For information about visiting someone in a hospice during the pandemic, visit the hospice’s website to find out what their guidelines are. Use our hospice finder to find your local hospice.

The rules around visiting someone at home are different depending where you live. For the latest information visit our page I need COVID-19 advice.

Before deciding to visit someone in their home, consider the risk of spreading COVID-19 and what you can do to reduce it.

Check with the person you are going to see and the other people living in the household to make sure they are all comfortable with your visit. During your visit, try to follow these guidelines as much as possible:

• go alone if possible to stop different households mixing
• wash your hands, including when you arrive and before you leave
• wear a mask
• stay two metres away from anyone you do not live with
• keep a window open to ventilate the room
• if possible, meet outside