“We are super excited today. To think about hugging your loved one is huge.”

“Today is day 363 since our residents have been closed,” said Yvonne Myers, Health System Director for Columbine Health Systems, one of Northern Colorado’s biggest senior care living providers. “We are super excited today. To think about hugging your loved one is huge.”

Seniors have been the most susceptible to contracting COVID-19, with a greater likelihood that they could die from the pandemic. Because of that the federal and state governments have been stringent on family and friend interactions. While recent guidelines allowed the seniors to talk with loved ones through windows, or from six feet away, Wednesday’s announcement was the first time providers were told they could let their residents physically touch their loved ones.

“You can hug your loved one!” Myers told CBS4’s Dillon Thomas. “If you’re fully vaccinated and your loved one can come in and give you a hug, that will be fun and great to see.”