However, the facility should suspend visitation on the affected unit until the facility meets the criteria to discontinue outbreak testing.If the first round of outbreak testing reveals no additional COVID-19 cases in other areas (e.g., units) of the facility, then visitation can resume for residents in areas/units with no COVID-19 cases.Visitation would be allowed resume based on the following criteria: When a new case of COVID-19 among residents or staff is identified, a facility should immediately begin outbreak testing and suspend all visitation (except that required under federal disability rights law), until at least one round of facility-wide testing is completed, the CMS rules stated.

Andrew Cuomo speaks to the media via conference call. The new federal recommendations also detail when nursing homes should handle COVID-19 outbreaks and visitation. The guidelines noted compassionate care visits, such as for family members who provide essential care to residents or end-of-life scenarios, should be permitted at all times. Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions.If the nursing home’s COVID-19 county COVID-19 test positivity rate is below 10% and fewer than 70% of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated.The scenarios for limiting indoor visitation include:

In general, facilities should allow indoor visitation at all times and for all residents (regardless of vaccination status), except for a few circumstances when visitation should be limited due to a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, the CMS rules stated. Nursing homes would also be urged to prioritize outdoor visitation whenever possible due to the reduced risk of transmitting coronavirus in outdoor settings due to increased space and airflow. Under the new federal rules, visitors would still be recommended to wear face coverings and practice social distancing regardless of their vaccination status.

Ny nursing home visits