Nursing homes, others can expand visits

Health care facilities can expand visitation for residents and their families, the Virginia Department of Health announced last week.

That day, the federal Centers for Disease Control released updated guidance on infection prevention and control in health care settings, including nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to a press release. CDC also released updated visitation guidelines for certified nursing homes.

The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Virginia nursing home residents has been consistently decreasing since mid-January, with the health department observing the lowest weekly case counts since early summer 2020.

As of March 11, 279,969 vaccine doses had been administered to residents and staff in Virginia long-term care facilities.

Relaxing indoor visitation restrictions might increase the risk for virus transmission in post-acute care facilities, but Virginia’s progress in vaccinating residents and personnel can reduce the risk, the health department noted, “and public health officials understand that expanding visitation has substantial benefits to residents.”

Indoor visitation could be permitted for all residents except as noted below:

• Indoor visitation for unvaccinated residents should be limited solely to compassionate care situations if the COVID-19 county positivity rate is more than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of facility residents are fully vaccinated.

• Indoor visitation should be limited solely to compassionate care situations for: Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents with the infection until they have met criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions; and vaccinated and unvaccinated residents in quarantine until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

• Facilities experiencing outbreaks should continue to follow guidance from their local health department. Nursing homes should also follow guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on when visitation should be paused. Visitors should be counseled about their potential to be exposed to the virus if they are permitted to visit.

Officials urge facilities, personnel, residents and visitors to continue measures that include wearing a well-fitted face covering, maintaining at least six feet of physical distance, hand washing, staying home when sick and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

For more information, visit https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/health-professionals/virginia-long-term-care-task-force/.