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How To Tour a House Today: Tips To Make the Most of Virtual or In-Person Showings

Touring a house is like going on a first date: It’s your chance to get a sense of whether this home is the one. Can you envision baking cookies in that kitchen, or cracking a beer on that back deck?

But in this day and age, with so many houses to see and so little time before they get snapped up, the prospect of finding this dream home in the real estate haystack can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming. Add in the coronavirus pandemic, and the idea of checking out houses all around town might feel unsafe, too.

But here’s the good news: The rules on how to tour a house have changed in ways that can save time, lower your exposure to COVID-19, and curb your workload and stress levels, too. Here’s what you need to know to ace your house-hunting game for the modern day.

How to schedule a home tour

Most home buyers start their house hunt online—that’s a given. But once you spot a home you love, what’s next?

In the olden days of real estate, a home tour would kick off with several rounds of phone/email tag. You’d call your real estate agent, who would then contact the home’s listing agent, and once they’d talked you’d get looped in to when you can finally see the house. Talk about complicated! And that’s for just one house; most home buyers are juggling multiple home tours.

But today, the process is much simpler. For one, many real estate listings have a button you can click on to learn more about a property, sans the annoying phone games. On some listings, you can schedule a tour simply by clicking on your preferred day and time to visit. (See the Schedule a Tour  option on the right side of the sample listing below.)

In short, the process of scheduling a tour can now happen in a few seconds, no harder than ordering lunch on Seamless. After you submit your information, you’ll be assigned a local real estate agent, who will reach out to you directly to confirm your tour time and format. (More on your options there next.)

(Realtor.com)

Should I schedule a virtual tour or visit in person?

It wasn’t long ago when the only way to tour a house would be to visit in person. But today, you also have the option to take a virtual tour. You just schedule a tour as you usually would, but request a virtual home showing where a real estate agent shows you around the house via a live video stream on Google Hangouts, FaceTime, Zoom, or other app.

So should you opt for a virtual tour, or go for the real thing? According to many real estate experts, a virtual tour is the faster, easier, and safest place to start. While buying a home “sight unseen” as they say is a risky move few are willing to take (although it is done now more than ever), virtual tours are still a great way to whittle down your options and spend less time running around town.

“Virtual tours can act as a clearinghouse for buyers to narrow down their search,” says Jack Smith , a real estate agent with Shorewest Realtors in Milwaukee. From there, if you like what you see, you can proceed to an in-person tour to get a closer look.

What to look for on a home tour

Whether you’re conducting a virtual or in-person tour, it’s important to get to know every nook and cranny of the property. Breezing from room to room is not enough—particularly if you’re doing a remote tour where small details might be out of view.

As such, you’ll want to check out some less obvious features to make sure the house is in good shape. Here are some areas to home in on that many buyers might miss:

• The HVAC and hot water systems:  The age and quality of these big-ticket systems can make or break your budget, so while they’re not quite as fun as that gigantic kitchen island or the bonus room above the garage, they should be top priorities during your tour, even if you plan to hire an experienced home inspector.
• The exterior:  Don’t limit your tour to the house itself. Be sure to check out the garage, front and back yards, and any structures on the property such as swimming pools or gardening sheds.
• The neighborhood at large: You’re not just buying a home, but the neighborhood. Try to see the homes surrounding the one for sale to get a sense of what your life there would be like. Tons of traffic whizzing by might be a deterrent if you have kids or a dog; nearby restaurants and bars might be nice but will add to ambient noise. To get to know this area better, check out local neighborhood apps like Nextdoor.com.

What role does a real estate agent play in a home tour?

A real estate agent can serve as an excellent sounding board when touring a house. Plus, if you’re conducting a virtual tour, your agent may be able to visit the property on your behalf and answer any lingering questions you have, says Tony Mariotti , a real estate agent with RubyHome in Los Angeles.

“Buyers have asked us to check the number of electrical outlets and data ports in a room they intend to use as an office,” Mariotti says. “We’ve also measured and ‘reality checked’ rooms that looked big in listing photos due to wide-angle lenses.”

What to ask when touring houses

During a home tour, you’ll want to delve deeper by asking your real estate agent questions about the house. Here are some topics to hit.

• How old is the home? How old are the various systems and structural elements, like the roof and the water heater?
• Has any renovation work been done? If so, were the proper permits pulled and can I see them? Was the work performed by a licensed contractor, electrician, plumber, etc.?
• Are there any previous insurance claims that could affect insurability? Are there any special insurance policies required for the home?
• What were the average costs of utilities (water, electric, gas, sewer, and trash) over the past 12 months?
• What is the home’s listing history, including any price reductions or contracts that fell through? Why did the seller drop the price? Why did the home fall out of contract?
• Are there homeowners association fees? If so, what do they cover? How are the fees billed?

How home buyers can make the most out of touring homes

When touring bunches of homes, it can be hard to remember which house had that spa bathroom or sunroom you adored. To keep one home tour from blurring with the next, keep a notebook where you can make notes and reminders to help keep all the homes straight. Give each house a name if that helps you, and be sure to highlight any important concerns that jumped out during the tour.

And lest you get swept up swooning over home features that won’t really matter that much in the long run (e.g., that outdoor hot tub is nice but not all that necessary), it may help to write down a list of your top house-hunting priorities.

“Buyers should have a list of their ‘must haves,’ their ‘like to haves,’ and things they are willing to compromise on in a property,” says Cara Ameer , a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in California and Florida.

Similar to dating, you should probably just accept that you can’t have it all, and that some flexibility will be needed if you want your house hunt to end anytime soon.

Sarah Kuta is a writer and editor based in Colorado.

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Viewing a house: a complete checklist for buyers

Viewing a house can be confusing: it’s easy to be dazzled by the owner’s great taste in decor – or distracted by the opposite, so make sure you’re focusing what really counts

Viewing a house is something many people do as quickly as possible. It’s amazing how little time most of us spend on the biggest purchase we’ll ever make – a home. And even what we do look at can be superficial decoration rather than the more crucial factors. Make sure you’re checking out all you should when you’re buying a house – or flat by making a note of our tips.

1. Suss out the area

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If you are at the house viewing stage, you are serious about buying soon. Avoid getting a nasty surprise – such as finding out that the houses you're looking at are actually out of your budget. Get your mortgage sorted, at least in principle, before you go looking at suitable properties. Habito will help you find the best mortgage deal , offer free, unbiased, whole market advice and  and answer any questions you may have. Fill in the form below , then speak to an advisor for more help and advice.

Before you concentrate on the home itself – which you may be able to change to suit you – take a look at the surroundings. After all, there’s nothing you can do to change these.

Is there going to be noise from roads, planes or trains? It may be bearable at some times of the year but when summer comes and windows are open will it cause a problem? Are there schools, pubs, clubs, religious buildings or communal facilities that may bring peaks of traffic and parking issues or noise at certain times? Is the house or flat near a waste facility or industrial estate that might spoil your enjoyment of house or garden ?

If the only parking is on the street, will you have to pay for it? And will you be able to park near your home easily or might you be several streets away? If you are buying a  flat, will be you be able to park regularly in the driveway? What about local amenities? Have a checklist of what’s important to have in the locality and see how the property measures up. You might want the following at walking distance or a short drive away:

• Public transport
• Doctor’s surgery

2. Examine the exterior

Stand back and look at the roof . If it’s in a poor state, sorting it out can be expensive. Think about whether you’re prepared to put up with the disruption of major repairs as well as factoring in the cost. What’s the state of exterior brickwork or render ? If they’re in poor condition, work will be required. 

Assess which way the house is orientated. North-facing rooms will be darker and the light in them never anything but cool, and it’s unflattering to many wall colours. It’ll make a difference to what you can grow if your garden faces that way as well. If south-facing rooms have extensive glazing they may become unbearably hot in summer, unless measures have been taken to alleviate this problem. 

Lower ground floor properties, or basement conversions are guaranteed to be colder that anything ground floor level and above – so think higher heating bills and, potentially, a dehumidifier. 

3. Think about the soundness of the inside

Now’s the time to look for any signs of damp or mould growth. You may be able to smell the latter. Flaky plaster and watermarks are giveaways. Check for wall cracks. It’s the big ones that should ring alarm bells not hairline versions. Ask if, to the best of the current owners' knowledge, any building or renovation work is planned elsewhere in the building (if you're looking at a flat or semi-detached property). A neighbour's renovation will mean fresh cracks and dust in your property.

4. Make a note of neighbours

Think about whether your neighbours can see into the rooms and if any outside space is overlooked. There may be easy remedies, but it’s best to consider things now so you don’t end up feeling like you’re living in a goldfish bowl.

If parking is shared, ask if it’s allocated. Your idea of what’s fair when it’s communal might not coincide with other people’s.

5. Consider space and storage

Assess whether you’d like a similar amount of furniture in each room to that which the existing owners have. If so, can you move freely through the spaces or are doors and passageways through impeded by each room’s necessary furniture.

Look carefully at bedrooms , too. If you like a king-size bed and the owner only has a double in there, it’s easy to be fooled into thinking the space is sufficiently large.

Is built-in storage sufficient for your needs? A replacement kitchen is a big investment as is revamping a bathroom with fitted cabinetry. Places to put bulky items like vacuum cleaners and ironing boards are useful, too. In the bedroom, think whether any built-in wardrobes are sufficient for your needs or whether you’ll need to supplement them. If so, is there room for the additional furniture?

6. Wonder about electrical wiring 

Take the time to check for sockets in each room. Older homes may be short on places to plug in and adding extras is going to cost. Equally, if the electrics are out of date think about the inconvenience of rewiring as well as the spend.

7. Pay attention to plumbing 

If the boiler’s ancient you might end up forking out for a new one very soon, which is also going to weigh on your bank balance. Take a look at the condition of any exposed pipework in the bathroom and kitchen: old plumbing can be tricky to replace, so ideally you want pipes that have been well looked after. Pay attention to any weird smells in these areas, too. 

8. Count the cost of major buys

Painting walls in a different shade is easy, but some home changes are going to be costly, so add up the impact now or decide if you can put up with them as they are. Pay attention to:

• Bathroom(s)
• Window treatments

9. Assess security

Do the windows and doors have good locks? If not, factor in the cost of increasing security. This will help lower insurance premiums, too. Moreover, you'll need to consider the quality of the front door – if it's flimsy, it may need replacing too. Read our guide to home security to find out the basics a secure home should be equipped with.

10. See beyond the decor

Ask yourself if the owner’s tastes are influencing your response to the property. It’s easy to be put off somewhere that’s sound by the owner’s choice of gaudy wallpaper, or clutter of knick-knacks. On the other hand, if your feelings are all positive, perhaps you’ve fallen for their furniture, artwork and rugs – items that will move out when they do – rather than looking at the bones of the home.

Top tip: See if you get good reception on your mobile inside the house – and whether you mind if you don’t.

11. Ask the agent

Your solicitor will find the answers to many questions during the conveyancing process, but it’s worth quizzing the agent before you make an offer and you’ve spent money. Ask:

• If work’s been done on the house and whether it was undertaken by professionals. 
• Was permission required and given? 
• If the home is leasehold or freehold. If it’s leasehold, how many years are left on the lease? As a general rule, avoid a lease that's got less than 90 years left on it.
• Are any costs shared with neighbours? 
• Is any access shared? 
• Have the owners had any problems with the neighbours?

12. Can you improve it?

You might be buying with changes and home improvements in mind, so assess how easy these might be. If a house has already been extended, this will influence what you can achieve under permitted development .

You won’t be shown the loft, but you can ask if you can see it if you go on to request a second viewing as well as finding out about the ridge height to see if a loft conversion is possible.

If you like the idea of making the home more open plan, don’t think that tapping the wall will reveal whether it’s load bearing or not. If you’re serious about the property, you could go back for a second viewing with a professional to assess the potential and likely costs of changes like this.

13. Make a return trip

It’s worth going back to the area at different times of day to see if anything’s changed from when you first looked at the house or flat. Second and even third viewings of the interior are possible, too, and if you can show you’re a serious buyer who can proceed, the agent and owner should be happy to arrange these. As with re-checking the neighbourhood, try to go at different times of day.

14. Talk to your surveyor

If the property’s the right one but your viewing has raised questions about the structure or potential, you can ask your surveyor to examine specific issues when you instruct them. This might affect the level of survey you choose. Bear in mind, though, that you’ll be instructing a surveyor after you’ve made an offer, so you’ll need to have committed to the purchase before then. Read our guide to everything you need to know about surveys .

15. Compare mortgage deals

If this property is the one – and even if it isn't, but the viewing has confirmed that you want something of a similar size/type in the area, now is the time to start shopping around for the best mortgage deal. Use the easy Habito calculator below to get an idea of how much you could borrow, and how much your repayments would be, then speak to their advisors for more, free, unbiased expert advice.

Looking for more advice on how to buy a property?

• How to buy a house or flat: a beginner's guide
• How to take out a mortgage
• How to buy a house at auction

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Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes – long enough to see fridges become smart, decorating fashions embrace both minimalism and maximalism, and interiors that blur the indoor/outdoor link become a must-have. She loves testing the latest home appliances, revealing the trends in furnishings and fittings for every room, and investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper. For Realhomes.com, Sarah reviews coffee machines and vacuum cleaners, taking them through their paces at home to give us an honest, real life review and comparison of every model.

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By Holly Crossley Published 22 April 24

In addition to a Spice Girl reunion, Victoria Beckham's birthday party photos showcase the sophisticated style of her London home

By Danielle Valente Published 22 April 24

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The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential mental health support. Pregnant people, moms, and new parents can call or text any time, every day.

Start a call: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262)

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Important Home Visiting Information During COVID-19

Updated: May 18, 2023

The COVID-19 public health emergency expired as of May 11, 2023. With the end of the public health emergency, specific flexibilities offered for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( P.L. 116-260 ) have ended. MIECHV awardees may continue to use grant funding for reasonable, allocable, and allowable uses outlined in 42 U.S.C. § 711 (Title V, § 511 of the Social Security Act, as amended) and program guidance. These may include reasonable expenses to support the implementation of virtual or hybrid home visiting services to ensure eligible families can participate in evidence-based home visiting programs. 42 U.S.C. § 711 (Title V, § 511 of the Social Security Act, as amended), which authorizes the MIECHV Program, defines a virtual home visit as “a visit conducted solely by use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies.”

Please note that the end of the public health emergency does not impact allowable uses of funding for MIECHV awards made with American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) funding. HRSA encourages MIECHV awardees to continue to prioritize using ARP award funding to address the immediate and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families.

Jump to: Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 FAQs for Home Visiting Grantees

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021

On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( P.L. 116-260 ). This bill provided new authorities to MIECHV awardees to assist in their response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The law allowed awardees to use MIECHV funds during the COVID-19 public health emergency period to:

• Train home visitors in conducting virtual home visits and in emergency preparedness and response planning for families
• Acquire the technological means as needed to conduct and support a virtual home visit for families enrolled in the program
• Provide emergency supplies to families enrolled in the program, regardless of whether the provision of such supplies is within the scope of the approved program, such as diapers, formula, non-perishable food, water, hand soap, and hand sanitizer

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, specified that the additional authorities are available “during the COVID–19 public health emergency period.” The public health emergency ended on May 11, 2023, so these authorities are no longer available.

Back to the top

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ( P.L. 117-2 ) (ARP) was signed into law. ARP appropriated $150 million for MIECHV awardees to address the needs of expectant parents and families with young children during the COVID-19 public health emergency. ARP identifies seven categories of required uses of funding, which are service delivery, hazard pay or other staff costs, home visitor training, technology, emergency supplies, diaper bank coordination, and prepaid grocery cards.

The end of the COVID-19 public health emergency does not impact awards made with ARP funding.

On May 10, 2021, HRSA awarded approximately $40 million in funding provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) to 56 states, territories, and nonprofit organizations currently funded through the MIECHV Program to support home visiting activities that address immediate needs of parents, children, and families related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

On December 1, 2021, HRSA awarded approximately $81 million in additional ARP funds to continue to support MIECHV recipients in responding to ongoing COVID-19-related needs, including the expansion of services for families residing in at-risk communities as identified in the current approved needs assessment update. The remaining ARP funds will be used to support research, evaluation and technical assistance activities, tribal awards, and competitive innovation awards.

More information on the MIECHV ARP awards, including program guidance and Frequently Asked Questions, is available on the MIECHV Technical Assistance webpage .

FAQs for Home Visiting Grantees

With the end of the covid-19 public health emergency, how can miechv awardees spend formula award funding.

MIECHV awardees may continue to use formula award funding for reasonable, allocable, and allowable uses within the scope of their project. These may include reasonable expenses to support the implementation of virtual or hybrid services to ensure eligible families can participate in evidence-based home visiting programs. 42 U.S.C. § 711 (Title V, § 511 of the Social Security Act, as amended), which authorizes the MIECHV Program, defines a virtual home visit as “a visit conducted solely by use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies.”

MIECHV awardees may reach out to their HRSA Project Officer and Grants Management Specialist with any questions.

With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, how can MIECHV awardees continue to support families affected by COVID-19?

HRSA urges awardees to prioritize using American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) award funding to address the immediate and ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and families, consistent with the seven categories of required uses of funding (Section 9101 of P.L. 117-2 ): service delivery, hazard pay or other staff costs, home visitor training, technology, emergency supplies, diaper bank coordination, and prepaid grocery cards.

Please note that the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency does not impact awards made with ARP funding.

With the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, can MIECHV award funding support virtual home visiting services?

Yes, MIECHV award funding may continue to support virtual or hybrid home visiting services per Section 511 of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 ( P.L. 117-328 ). 42 U.S.C. § 711 (Title V, § 511 of the Social Security Act, as amended), which authorizes the MIECHV Program, defines a virtual home visit as “a visit conducted solely by use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies.”

Should well-child telehealth visits be included in performance reporting?

Well-child telehealth visits completed according to the AAP schedule can be included as meeting the numerator criteria for performance measure 4. The AAP has issued guidance on providing well-child care via telehealth during COVID-19 . We recognize that not all providers may offer well-child visits, in person or via telehealth, during this time. Awardees should continue to report on well-child visit completion following directions and information in the Form 2 toolkit (PDF - 1 MB) and FAQs (PDF - 1 MB) .

How should MIECHV awardees report virtual screenings for the purposes of annual performance measurement reporting?

All families screened with a validated tool should be included in the numerator and denominator per the measure definitions (Measure 3, Measure 12, and Measure 14). MIECHV awardees should consult with tool developers to determine appropriateness and criteria for virtual/remote screening. Please note that awardees should not report the number families screened virtually separately; however, awardees may voluntarily provide additional information related to virtual screenings in the comments section. The same information applies for reporting of virtual observations for Measure 10 (Parent-Child Interaction). For more information and tips on conducting virtual screenings, please review this HV CoIIN memo (PDF) .

Should postpartum telehealth visits be included in Performance Reporting?

Postpartum telehealth visits that meet the criteria defined in Form 2 (PDF - 489 KB) can be included in the numerator for measure 5. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women connect with their health care provider to discuss how their postpartum care visits may change during this time, including a shift to telemedicine or telehealth.

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What Is Home Visiting?

Early childhood home visiting is a service delivery strategy that matches expectant parents and caregivers of young children with a designated support person—typically a trained nurse, social worker, or early childhood specialist—who guides them through the early stages of raising a family. Services are voluntary, may include caregiver coaching or connecting families to needed services, and provided in the family's home or another location of the family's choice. 

Home visiting is a holistic, two-generation approach.

Home visiting views child and family development from a holistic perspective that encompasses child health and well-being, child development and school readiness, positive parent-child relationships, parent health and well-being, family economic self-sufficiency, and family functioning. A two-generation approach with a lengthy history , home visiting delivers both parent- and child-oriented services to help the whole family thrive. Although services differ across models, home visitors typically—

Gather Family Information to Tailor Services

• Screen caregivers for issues like postpartum depression, substance use, and domestic violence
• Screen children for developmental delays

Provide Direct Education and Support

• Provide knowledge and training to make homes safer
• Promote safe sleep practices
• Offer information about child development

Make Referrals and Coordinate Services

• Help pregnant women access prenatal care
• Check to make sure children attend well-child visits
• Connect caregivers with job training and education programs
• Refer caregivers as needed to mental health or domestic violence resources

Discover more in our Primer and At a Glance resources.

Home visiting outcomes are supported by research.

Research shows that voluntary home visiting programs help improve infant and maternal health, develop safe homes and nurturing relationships to prevent prevent child abuse and injury or mortality, support early learning and long-term academic achievement, and make referrals and coordinate services. Studies have found a return on investment of $1.80 to $5.70 for every dollar spent. This strong return on investment is consistent with established research on other types of early childhood interventions.

Learn more about the benefits .

Many models are evidence based or on the path to becoming so. 

Programs choose from a variety of models to implement with families, each suited to differing community needs, target obstacles, and available resources. The Home Visiting Evidence of Effectiveness (HomVEE) project administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a set of criteria for evidence of model effectiveness. Models that meet criteria are deemed evidence based. NHVRC surveys evidence-based and emerging models at the national, state/local, and tribal levels annually to provide a comprehensive assessment of the landscape in our Yearbook .  

Visit our model profiles for details on individual models.

Home Visiting Primer READ

Stay up to date on the latest home visiting information.

This page has content that may be inconsistent with new CDC Respiratory Virus Guidance . The content of this page will be updated soon.

Direct Service Providers for Children and Families: Information for Home Visitors

How home visitors can protect themselves and their clients from COVID-19 and other diseases that can be spread from person to person.

• Direct Service Providers
• People with Disabilities
• Group Homes for People with Disabilities

Home-visiting professionals, or home visitors, provide many needed services directly to children and families in their home. These direct service providers can include maternal, infant, early childhood, and early intervention home visitors. They also may be teachers and therapists who provide needed services for infants, children, and teens, including those with disabilities. When in-person services are delivered, they are often done in close and consistent contact with the clients. This means that it is important to use prevention strategies to protect the home visitor and the family from diseases that can be spread from person to person, such as COVID-19, but also flu, colds, and other respiratory or gastrointestinal illnesses. In addition, home visitors are trusted sources of information and support for families, particularly those who experience health inequity . This page provides an overview of how home visitors can protect themselves and their clients during home visits.

Strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19

With current high uptake of COVID-19 vaccination and high levels of population immunity from both vaccination and infections, the risk of medically significant disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19 is greatly reduced for most people. At the same time, we know that some people and communities, such as our oldest citizens, people who are immunocompromised, and people with disabilities, are more likely to get severely ill and face challenging decisions navigating a world with COVID-19.

People who are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines have much lower risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 than unvaccinated people. However, many home visitors work with children who are not yet eligible for vaccination. When making decisions about preventive behaviors in addition to vaccination, people should consider the COVID-19 Community Level in the county . These levels show the degree of risk (low, medium, high) and describe the prevention strategies that are recommended for each level. Prevention strategies — like staying up to date on vaccines, screening testing, ventilation, and wearing masks — can help limit severe disease and reduce the potential for strain on the healthcare system. For home visitors who work with children, it may not be feasible to use all recommended prevention strategies. Therefore, particularly in communities with medium or high COVID-19 levels, home visitors should use multiple layers of recommended COVID-19 strategies to the extent possible  while also following any applicable guidance from regulatory agencies and state and local public health departments.

The following information is a brief overview of strategies that home visitors can use when working with children and families. Detailed information about ways home visitors can protect themselves is in the COVID-19 Guidance for Direct Service Providers (cdc.gov) and in the COVID-19 Guidance for Operating Early Care and Education/Child Care (ECE) Programs (cdc.gov)

Ways home visitors can protect themselves and the families they serve:

1. vaccination.

Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID-19. As with vaccines for other diseases, people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines  are best protected.

Home visitors can protect themselves, their own families, and the families they care for by staying up to date with all vaccinations, including COVID-19 vaccines. As trusted professionals who know their families well, home visitors can play a role in helping families learn about the importance of vaccines and about supporting children’s healthy development by keeping up to date on all well visits and preventive screenings, such as screening for developmental delays and lead poisoning . They can help connect the family to a regular primary healthcare provider who provides consistent and supportive health care and serves as the family’s medical home . They can remind families that children should get all routine vaccinations to help protect themselves and others from vaccine-preventable diseases , and that family members who are up to date on all vaccines protect children who are not yet old enough to get all vaccines.

Families who are not up to date with all vaccinations may have questions and concerns about the vaccines. Home visitors can promote vaccines by:

• Encouraging families to connect with a regular primary healthcare provider and stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.
• Sharing information with parents and caregivers to answer questions and help with any worries and concerns: COVID-19 Vaccines for Children and Teens, Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination in Children , and Resources to Promote the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children & Teens .
• Using the strategies that health care providers use to help with worries and concerns: Talking with Patients about COVID-19 Vaccination , Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination .
• Helping families who have worries and fears about needles for themselves and their children: Needle Fears and Phobia – Find Ways to Manage .
• Finding ways to support COVID-19 vaccination in their ECE programs .

2. Ventilation

Improving ventilation is an important COVID-19 prevention strategy that can reduce the number of virus particles in the air. Along with other preventive strategies , bringing fresh outdoor air into a building helps keep virus particles from concentrating inside. Home visitors can improve ventilation or ask families to improve ventilation during the visit by

• Opening multiple doors and windows, if feasible.
• Using child-safe fans to increase the effectiveness of open windows.
• Using the exhaust fan  in the kitchen or bathroom to increase air flow, particularly if opening windows is not possible.
• Using portable HEPA air cleaners .
• Visiting with the child outdoors when possible.

Learn more about encouraging families to improve the ventilation in their home .

3. Hygiene: Respiratory Etiquette, Handwashing, Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting

Home visitors can limit the spread of illnesses by following all guidance on cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. During home visits, many activities may involve touching children, and infants and toddlers often need to be held.  For COVID-19 in general, cleaning once a day is usually enough to sufficiently remove potential virus that may be on surfaces. However, in addition to cleaning for COVID-19, home visitors should practice and encourage families to practice respiratory etiquette and recommended procedures for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection , such as after diapering , feeding , and exposure to bodily fluids. See more information about cleaning and sanitizing toys .

Home visitors can use the following strategies:

• Use respiratory etiquette , including covering coughs and sneezes and washing hands immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If handwashing is not possible, use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizers should be stored up, away, and out of sight of young children and should be used only with adult supervision for children under 6 years of age or for children with certain disabilities that make it hard for the child to use hand sanitizer safely on their own.
• Avoid touching the eyes while holding, washing, or feeding a child.
• Wear disposable gloves during activities such as dressing, bathing/showering, toileting, feeding. Safely dispose of gloves after use. Wash hands before and after taking off disposable gloves. If gloves are unavailable, wash hands immediately after.
• Change clothes right away if body fluids get on them, whenever possible, and then rewash hands. Launder work uniforms or clothes after each use with the warmest appropriate water setting for the items and dry items completely.
• Wash anywhere that was in contact with a child’s body fluids and follow recommendations on  cleaning and sanitizing toys, other learning tools , and assistive devices, particularly if they were in contact with body fluids.
• Follow recommendations for cleaning and disinfecting the home  if someone is sick, or tests positive for COVID-19.

When people ages 2 and older wear a well-fitting mask correctly and consistently, they protect others as well as themselves  from infections that are spread through the air or through respiratory droplets. Consistent and correct mask use is recommended in public settings in communities with high COVID-19 Community Levels , and around people at high risk for severe disease in communities with medium COVID-19 Community Levels . At all COVID-19 Community Levels, people can wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk. People with symptoms of COVID-19, people with a positive COVID-19 test results who are around other people, and people who are quarantining because of a close contact, should wear a mask.

Masks should not be worn by children under age 2. Some older children or adults cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask , because of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

When choosing a mask , home visitors can consider fit, comfort, and the special needs of the people around them. To facilitate learning and social and emotional development, consider wearing a clear mask or cloth mask with a clear panel when interacting with young children, children learning to speak or read, children learning another language, or when interacting with people who rely on reading lips. Generally, vinyl and non-breathable materials are not recommended for masks . However, for ease of lip-reading, this is an exception to that general guidance.

5. Physical Distancing

It is generally recommended that people maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from persons who are sick with COVID-19. However, maintaining physical distance between a home visitor and their clients is often not feasible during home visiting, especially during certain activities such as physical therapy, feeding, holding/comforting, and among younger children in general. When it is not possible to maintain physical distance in home visiting settings, it is especially important to layer multiple prevention strategies, such as masking indoors, improved ventilation, handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and regular cleaning to help reduce COVID-19 transmission risk.

6. Isolation and Quarantine

People who are confirmed to have COVID-19 or are showing symptoms of COVID-19 need to stay home (known as isolation) regardless of their vaccination status. This includes

• People who have a positive viral test  for COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms .
• People with symptoms  of COVID-19, including people who are awaiting test results or have not been tested. People with symptoms should isolate even if they do not know if they have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19.

People who come into close contact  with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine  if they have not had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days and are in one of the following groups:

• Infants and young children who are not eligible for vaccination based on age .
• Staff and older children who are not up to date with COVID-19 vaccines (have not received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible ).

Home visitors can encourage families to monitor children at home for fever (a temperature of 100.4 ºF (38.0 ºC)  or other signs of illnesses that could be spread to others [PDF – 1 page] , including COVID-19, and adjust visit schedules if needed. Services may be provided virtually during quarantine or isolation if feasible.

Learn more about CDC guidance on COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation  and about making decisions about the length of quarantine and isolation for young children:  Isolation and Quarantine in Early Care and Education (ECE) Programs .

7. Mental Health Support

Taking care of children requires a lot of effort and includes many challenges. CDC provides resources to support the mental health of home visitors and the families they serve, for example:

• Stress and Coping
• How Right Now – Finding What Helps with Emotional Well-Being and Resilience
• Tips for Promoting School Employee Wellness
• Taking Care of Your Emotional Health
• Learn About Children’s Mental Health
• Mental Health
• Occupational Health and Safety
• COVID-19 Guidance for Direct Service Providers
• Vaccinating Children with Disabilities Against COVID-19
• Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program | MCHB (hrsa.gov)
• Home Visiting | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)
• Health Tips for Home Visitors to Prevent the Spread of Illness (hhs.gov) [PDF – 11 pages]
• COVID-19 Information for Health Centers and Partners | Bureau of Primary Health Care (hrsa.gov)
• Learn About Child Development
• “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” 

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• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
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Roles of a Home Visitor

Your first task is creating and maintaining a relationship with the family. You partner with the family to understand their hopes and expectations for their child. As you observe and interact with the family and child together, you help the parents maintain an accurate understanding of their child's learning and development. Research studies consistently show the most important role of a home visitor is structuring child-focused home visits that promote parents' ability to support the child's cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.

When a parent is distracted by personal concerns or crises, you balance listening to the parent and honoring their choice to share concerns with you with eventually bringing the focus back to the child. After assisting a parent in exploring relevant resources and supports, you might say, "This sounds like a very hard time for you. I can see how upset you are. In fact, I've been watching the baby and he looks very concerned about your feelings now. What do you think it's like for him to see you so upset?"

You also take every opportunity to notice and remark on positive actions or interactions on the part of the parent. You bring a strength-based perspective, building on the parent's role as their child's first and most important relationship. For example, "It's wonderful you already know how to comfort her."

In addition to your work on child development, you work with other program staff and community partners to coordinate such services as health, mental health, and oral health services for the family. You offer annual health, vision, hearing, and developmental screening. An important aspect of your work with some families is having strategies and resources for managing a crisis.

In an ongoing way, you help the family move forward with their goals for well-being, economic stability, and self-sufficiency.

Resource Type: Article

Last Updated: December 3, 2019

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A City You Should Visit: Moscow

September 30, 2016 1 min read

In a post about emerging streetwear cities in the world, we mentioned Moscow, Russia. Images like that of St. Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square fill our minds as we picture our vacation to Moscow, but as you peel back expectations of Soviet and traditional art, you will find a city filled with young, innovative artists and designers.

While Moscow has been given a facelift with scattered green spaces, historical parks like Gorky Park, originally designed in the 1920s as a communist utopia, exist today as a beacon of the city’s transition from Soviet to modern Moscow.

Moscow features some of the most awe-inspiring architecture and Christian cathedrals in the world. After the fall of Constantinople, Russian leaders took it upon themselves to create beautiful beacons of orthodox religion in the city. From the Cathedral of the Annunciation that served as the Tsar’s private church to St Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square, these houses of religion are must-sees in the city.

Photo via TooBrother  

Another bonus of visiting Moscow is that St. Petersburg, Russia’s capital is just a train ride away.

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Kevin Bacon visits 'Footloose' school before it's torn down — and in time for prom

Ciara Hulet

The Utah high school where Footloose was filmed invited Kevin Bacon to visit for their prom on the 40th anniversary of the film's release.

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

This year is the 40th anniversary of the hit film "Footloose." You may remember Kevin Bacon as a high school student who gets a conservative town to loosen up and ditch its ban on dancing. The school in Utah where it was filmed is about to be torn down, and students there have been working hard to get Bacon to come and visit. And this weekend, he did, just in time for their prom. Ciara Hulet with member station KUER in Salt Lake City was there.

CIARA HULET, BYLINE: Scenes from the hit '80s film took place right here. Principal Jesse Sorenson says his son actually discovered Ren McCormack's locker during a summer cleaning job.

JESSE SORENSON: And there was a little sticker in there that was all faded that said, congratulations, you have Kevin Bacon's locker from the film "Footloose," 1984.

HULET: What? (Laughter).

SORENSON: Yeah. And this is the locker.

HULET: What?

(SOUNDBITE OF KEYS JANGLING)

HULET: It's filled with movie pictures and quotes and a pair of cowboy boots.

SORENSON: And then there's a Bible here with the scripture about the time to weep, the time to laugh, the time to mourn and the time to dance.

(SOUNDBITE OF LOCKER CLOSING)

HULET: Payson High students and faculty have been working for a couple of years to bring Bacon back for one last dance. Student Body President Rubie Raff.

RUBIE RAFF: This whole school year, all of our events have been aimed towards "Footloose." We did a "Footloose" - a school musical, a "Footloose" movie stadium night, Mr. Bacon contest.

HULET: The school finally convinced him to come.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Kevin Bacon.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

HULET: Kevin Bacon does a little jig as he walks on to the Payson High School football field. He says, at first, he thought the idea of coming back was crazy.

KEVIN BACON: But you were all just tireless, unrelenting (laughter).

HULET: He says Payson has shown some of the ideas behind "Footloose," like standing up to authority, freedom of expression and having compassion for other people.

BACON: I also think that it's amazing the power that this movie has had to just kind of bring people together.

HULET: Bacon agreed to come after the school promised to help out his charitable foundation, Sixdegrees.org. It gives away resource kits for people in need. And on the day of his visit, students and people in Payson lined up across the school's football field, putting together 5,000 kits.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Mr. Bacon, are you counting?

BACON: I'm counting.

HULET: They're bagging things like hygiene items, food, a journal and vouchers for free therapy through BetterHelp. Utah nonprofit Encircle is one that will be giving out the kits. CEO Jordan Sgro says a lot of the LGBTQ youth they serve experience homelessness and food insecurity.

JORDAN SGRO: Encircle's getting over a thousand kits to distribute, which is just incredibly powerful.

HULET: She also says the attention from someone like Kevin Bacon is a reminder to these youth that they're loved and important.

SGRO: That just does a lot internally for an LGBTQ youth that's really struggling with their identity or with their journey.

HULET: Student Council Adviser Jenny Staheli says the project to bring back Bacon has also done a lot for Payson. It brought them together, especially in a time when unity feels hard to find.

Do you think this is something that was particularly needed this year?

JENNY STAHELI: I really do. And I think it's really because this is such a feel-good idea that we can all get behind and we can all agree that good things need to happen in the world, and unexpected kindnesses are worth it.

HULET: Mayor Bill Wright hopes that even after Kevin Bacon's visit, the community will continue to work together.

BILL WRIGHT: You have a dream, make that dream come to fruition. And you only do that by working together.

HULET: But Bacon didn't leave without busting one last move.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Here we go.

(SOUNDBITE OF KENNY LOGGINS SONG, "FOOTLOOSE")

HULET: For NPR News in Payson, Utah, I'm Ciara Hulet.

Copyright © 2024 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

’Don’t come out!' Viral video captures alligator paying visit to Florida neighborhood

It's alligator mating season, and gators are turning up everywhere in florida..

• Alligator mating season "officially" begins in May or June, but male alligators begin courting in early April
• Alligators may range up to several miles seeking mates and new habitats

A Florida woman was not terribly welcoming to her new neighbor: an alligator that was spotted wandering around her Fort Myers house and lurking under a car.

Siara Mercedes Grant told Storyful she got a heads-up about the new visitor on Thursday, April 18.

“I was cooking dinner when my neighbor called me to tell me there was an alligator outside of my house and to warn my husband, who would be coming home soon,” she said. "I opened the door to see where it was, and my husband yelled at me from the driveway, ’Don’t come out!’

Grant's husband videoed the gator, which she said was hiding under the neighbor's car before trying to knock open the door to another house.

“Then he started walking back to our house, so we ran inside before he did. Then he stayed outside our door for a while before he kept going on his merry way,” Grant said.

Professional alligator wranglers came the next day to remove the reptile.

Alligator season is coming in Florida

Gators are turning up everywhere as alligator mating season approaches, during which the gators that are chased out of their habitats by stronger ones wander around looking for new places to live and find mates. This month alone, alligators have been spotted in a Bonita Springs neighborhood , attacking a man walking his dogs in Naples , getting stuck in a kitchen in Venice , on a golf course and more.

What do I do if I see an alligator?

Do not attempt to capture an alligator yourself, and it's against the law to shoot at them . If you encounter an alligator you think will be a threat to people, pets or property, call the FWC’s Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 1‐866‐FWC‐GATOR (392‐4286) or visit  myfwc.com .

The FWC’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators 4 feet in length or greater that are believed to pose a threat.

VP Kamala Harris talks abortion in La Crosse, announces minimum nursing home staff levels

LA CROSSE — In a visit to a purple region of Wisconsin on Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced new rules for nursing home staffing and rallied voters around abortion as the race for the presidency remains extremely tight in the battleground state.

"This is a moment where we must stand up for foundational, fundamental values and principles," Harris told supporters during a campaign event at the La Crosse Center. "Here's the other piece that I will say: When we think about what is at stake, it is absolutely about freedom."

The trip to La Crosse reflects Democrats' efforts to make abortion a key factor in motivating turnout for President Joe Biden, including among voters in purple areas or even the traditionally red Milwaukee suburbs.

Women affected by abortion bans in other states campaigned for Biden in Waukesha County last week , and Harris brought a similar message to the area in January . Biden administration officials have also made frequent trips to Milwaukee and Madison this year, both Democratic strongholds.

Democrats have focused blame on former President Donald Trump, who has so far visited Wisconsin once this election cycle. Trump held a two percentage point lead over Biden in the most recent statewide poll by the Marquette University Law School, 51% to 49%, well within the poll's margin of error.

Trump in a video statement earlier this month said abortion restrictions should be left up to the states . Abortions are currently being provided in Wisconsin, but the state Supreme Court could soon weigh in .

"There is a clear line between where we are now and who is to blame," Harris said. "The former president was very clear with his intention — he would fill and appoint three members of the U.S. Supreme Court with the intention that they would overturn the protections of (Roe v. Wade)."

More: Wisconsin abortion laws: What to know after Arizona ruling

Harris announces new rules for staffing levels at nursing homes

Before speaking at the campaign event, Harris met with home health care workers at the Hmoob Cultural & Community Agency, where she announced two new federal rules.

One sets minimum staffing levels in nursing homes that receive federal funding through Medicare and Medicaid — about 3 1/2 hours of staffing per resident per day, a requirement that will be phased in. A registered nurse will also be required on site at all times.

Another rule provides that more Medicaid payments for home care services go toward workers' wages.

"The two announcements that we are making today recognize that we owe you, those workers, so much more than applauding you," Harris said, referencing praise for health care workers during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Let's recognize the gift that these talented professionals give to families and to all of us as a society."

Ron Johnson says nursing home rules should be handled locally

In Madison, Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson spoke to reporters about Harris' visit following a roundtable discussion hosted by the state's largest business lobby, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

"Anybody who's following me realizes I'm not a real fan of the federal government," Johnson said when asked about the new federal rules for nursing homes.

"So I would much rather allow or have the state government and local governments in charge of the requirements of nursing care facilities, and — anything to do with the citizens of this state, I'd rather have state governments and local governments handle that than some dictate from the federal government that causes more problems or exacerbates more problems than it solves."

New Marquette poll shows abortion is top issue for Democratic voters

In the latest Marquette University Law School poll released last week , 24% of Democratic voters said they consider abortion their most important issue in deciding who to vote for, followed by the economy. For independent and Republican voters, 5% of those groups saw abortion as their top issue.

"People will say to me, 'Well, Sarah, aren't folks just over that whole abortion issue? Haven't they just moved on?" Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski said before Harris' speech. "I am just as mad today as when I heard about the Supreme Court overturning Roe, and I know that I'm not alone."

While abortion was the leading issue among Democratic participants, the economy was the No. 1 issue for all respondents in the survey, followed by immigration and abortion policy. Voters saw Biden better at handling abortion and health care, and Trump better on the economy and immigration.

A majority of registered voters in Wisconsin, 54%, also said they favor a national ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and the life and health of the mother.

Johnson, in comments to reporters at the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, again called for a statewide referendum that would put the question of when to ban abortion to voters.

Democrats campaigning on abortion outside of blue strongholds

While Democrats have also highlighted abortion access in suburban Milwaukee, the La Crosse area is much more purple and voted for Biden in 2020. In 2020 , La Crosse County voted 56% for Biden, compared to Trump's 42%.

While Biden officials have stopped in Milwaukee and Madison most frequently, they've also visited Superior on the Minnesota border , Green Bay and the Menominee Nation in northeastern Wisconsin.

More: Did the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin really come down to a few votes per ward?

La Crosse is located in the 3rd Congressional District, one of two truly competitive U.S. House districts in Wisconsin. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden. Democrats are focusing more energy on the race compared to the last cycle.

Van Orden has raised much more money than his prospective Democratic challengers, small-business owner Rebecca Cooke and state Rep. Katrina Shankland from Stevens Point.

Neither were spotted at the campaign event, though Democratic U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan from Madison praised Shankland alongside other state legislators from the area in his remarks at the campaign event. Pocan has endorsed Shankland in the race.

Pocan called Van Orden a "chauvinist" and said western Wisconsin is "represented in Congress by someone who has been endorsed by the most extreme groups on abortion."

Jessie Opoien contributed to this report from Madison.

Ring home security customers will get refunds over security-lapse claims

The Biden administration is sending out $5.6 million in refund payments to certain Ring home security system customers after the company settled a federal complaint accusing it of security lapses.

In a statement this week, the Federal Trade Commission said it would be sending out 117,044 payments via PayPal to affected customers as compensation for claims that Ring allowed employees and contractors to access consumers’ private videos. The agency accused Ring in 2023 of failing to implement proper security protections, enabling hackers to take control of consumer accounts, cameras and videos.

In a statement sent to The Associated Press, Ring, which was purchased by Amazon in 2018, said that bad actors took emails and passwords that were “stolen from other companies to unlawfully log into Ring accounts of certain customers."

It said it promptly addressed the situation by notifying any customer “exposed in a third-party, non-Ring incident” and taking action to protect impacted accounts.

Many of the violations alleged by the FTC predate Amazon's acquisition.

Ring did not immediately address the FTC’s allegations of employees and contractors unlawfully accessing footage, The Associated Press said. Amazon has previously said it disagreed with the FTC’s claims but that it was eager to “put these matters behind us.”

The FTC said customers who have not already been contacted about a refund or who have questions about their payments should contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, Inc., at  1-833-637-4884, or visit the FTC website to  view frequently asked questions  about the refund process. 

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Britain's home secretary touts UK-Rwanda migrant deportation deal during visit to Italy

ROME — Britain’s home secretary on Tuesday touted Britain’s migrant deportation deal with Rwanda as a “new and creative” deterrent to an old and growing problem. But he said he took seriously criticism by the U.N. refugee agency that it violates international law.

Home Secretary James Cleverly visited Italy, ground zero in Europe’s migration debate, hours after the U.K. Parliament approved legislation to enable the government to deport some people to Rwanda who enter Britain illegally.

The deal, in which Britain will pay Rwanda to process the migrants, is aimed at deterring people from crossing the English Channel from France. It is similar in some basic aspects to Italy’s controversial pact to outsource the processing of asylum-seekers to Italian-run centers in Albania.

Human rights groups have said both deals, forged by conservative governments amid anti-migrant sentiment among voters, violate the rights of migrants that are enshrined in international refugee conventions.

On Tuesday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the UK-Rwanda deal is “not compatible with international refugee law” because it uses an asylum model “that undermines global solidarity and the established international refugee protection system.”

Cleverly defended the deal as a necessary response to a problem that has outgrown the international institutional way of processing migrants. He said Britain will not tolerate people smugglers determining who arrives on British soil.

“People-smuggling mass migration has changed (and) I think demands us to be constantly innovating,” he told a gathering at the Institute of International Affairs, a Rome-based think tank.

He said he took seriously the UNCHR criticism and said Britain was a law-abiding country.

“Of course we will respect the U.N. enormously,” he said when asked about the UNHCR criticism. “We take it very, very seriously. Doesn’t mean to say we always agree with their assessment. But we will, of course, look at that.”

Cleverly visited the Italian coast guard headquarters on Tuesday and on Wednesday is to visit the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, where tens of thousands of migrants have arrived after crossing the Mediterranean Sea on boats setting off from northern Africa.

Lampedusa is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland and is often the destination of choice for migrants, whose numbers reached 157,652 new arrivals in Italy last year.

The numbers arriving in Italy so far this year are actually way down, presumably thanks to Italy’s European Union-endorsed agreement with Tunisia to stem departures . As of Tuesday, 16,090 migrants had arrived by sea in Italy so far this year, compared to 36,324 in this period last year.

Spain has actually outpaced Italy so far this year in terms of migrant sea arrivals, with 16,621 arriving this year as of April 15, the last available date.

In Britain, the numbers pale in comparison to the southern Mediterranean, even during peak periods: In 2022, the number of people arriving in Britain from across the Channel reached 45,774, though last year the number dropped to 29,437.