Families got the chance Friday to finally start visiting loved ones in nursing homes again, although some are still waiting for their chance.

In-person visits are now allowed, but only if strict guidelines are met. The nursing home has to be COVID-19-free for 14 straight days. In addition, facilities in counties with 5% to 10% transmission rates will require a test before entering.

However, for those in counties with less than 5%, such as Nassau and Suffolk, a test is recommended but not required.

James Brown, of Wheatley Heights, was able to visit his wife at East Neck Nursing Rehabilitation and Dialysis Center in West Babylon.

"Very important for me, more important for her," says Brown.

Jacqueline Kreismann, with Nassau Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hempstead, says they're getting prepared for reunions. They haven't been COVID-free for 14 days yet, but they are ready to open their doors to visitors come March 3.

"We have a designated area that is going to be open for visitation. It will be by appointment only, everybody will need to show a negative COVID test within 72 hours and we are going to really do our best to accommodate the visits as often as possible. We will have to limit the time just to accommodate everybody," she says.

But some families are feeling frustrated. Nora Steinmetz's mother and father are at St. Johnland's Nursing Home in Kings Park. The facility currently has a number of COVID-19 cases.

Steinmetz says she doesn't see a light at the end of the tunnel, and the wait is breaking her heart.

"Every day is important for these seniors that are in there," she says. "They need to be with family."