When covid-19 is detected in the geographic region of the facility, aggressive infection control measures will be implemented to prevent introduction of the virus to residents, staff and visitors.
Policy Interpretation and Implementation
Due to the increased risk of mortality from covid-19 in the frail elderly, infection control measures to prevent the introduction or spread of the covid-19 virus is a priority.
Early prevention of covid-19 outbreak consists of the following measures:
Training clinical staff in the modes of transmission of the virus;
Training residents, families and non-clinical staff on the symptoms of covid-19 and standard infection control precautions (e.g., handwashing, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, etc.);
Early detection of cases in the facility;
Use of antiviral medications to treat ill persons, as recommended by current clinical practice guidelines;
Isolation of infected residents in private rooms or cohort units;
Use of appropriate barrier precautions during resident care; and
Restriction of visitors who have been exposed to or are symptomatic of covid-19.
If pandemic covid-19 is detected in the geographic region of the facility, the following measures will be taken to prevent or delay the introduction of the virus to the facility:
Display signs and/or posters (in appropriate languages) at the entry to the facility restricting entry by any persons who have been exposed to or have symptoms of pandemic covid-19;
Train staff to visually and verbally screen visitors at facility entry points for respiratory symptoms of pandemic covid-19;
Provide a telephone number for family and visitors to call for information regarding prevention and control strategies for pandemic covid-19;
Screen all employees for respiratory illness before coming on duty and send any symptomatic employees home;
Refer to Pandemic covid-19 Plan for employee absences and contact Medical Director, Clinical consultants and or Division Medical Director; and
Increase resident surveillance for covid-19 respiratory-like illness. Notify local or state health department if a case is suspected.
If an outbreak of pandemic covid-19 occurs within the facility, strict adherence to standard and transmission-based precautions and other infection control measures will be implemented according to the most current CDC recommendations for COVID-19.
