Long-term care homes, hospitals and health centres in Manitoba are expanding in-person visits as the province prepares to lift all COVID-19 restrictions by mid-March.

Starting this week, general visits are being permitted in addition to visits from designated family caregivers at care homes.

Jan Legeros of the Long Term & Continuing Care Association says she expects the gradual changes to give designated caregivers more flexibility and loosen time limits on general visits.

She says the changes are a big step forward for the residents who have been isolated for a long time and need to see their loved ones.