On September 25, new guidance from the Department of Public Health allows nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living residences to permit indoor visitation in a designated visitation space close to the entrance of the facility.
The guidance permits physical contact with precautionary measures, such as hand sanitization before and after contact. It requires facilities to screen visitors for COVID-19 and take their temperature.
Residents, staff and visitors must otherwise maintain social distancing and wear a mask for the duration of the visit.
The guidance, published on Thursday, September 24, also requires that the unit, floor, or care area where the resident lives has not had COVID-19 cases in residents or staff in the past 14 days. The facility also must not be experiencing a staffing shortage that requires a contingency staffing plan.
Facilities must also implement a schedule for frequent disinfection of the visitation area.
