Update from Administrator – July 19, 2022
July 19, 2022
Dear Resident & Family member,
I hope this letter finds you doing well. There are a few things I would like to update you on. First, we have one employee who is COVID positive. We received the confirmed test result last evening. This employee worked primarily on the fourth floor. Fortunately, the symptoms experienced are mild and they remain stable. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now recommending people who are age 50 or older, and people ages 12 or older, who have moderately to severely compromised immune systems should get a second booster at least 4 months after their first booster. Healthcare workers are required to be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations and those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities who are not up to date may be required to undergo testing and to wear N-95 masks during periods of substantial or high COVID-19 transmission, as per State and CMS regulations.
New admissions or residents who have left the nursing facility for more than 24 hours, regardless of vaccination status, should take 2 viral tests: 1 immediately upon return and if negative, the 2nd 5 to 7 days after admission and should be placed in quarantine until their second test is negative.
Quarantine may be shortened to 7 days if a test is negative on day 5 or later. Nursing Home Residents should isolate on first day of symptoms or the day of a positive test if there are no symptoms. A symptomatic resident should isolate until at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without fever-reducing medications AND symptoms have improved. Symptomatic residents who are immunocompromised or have moderate to sever illness with COVID-19 should isolate until at least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without fever-reducing medications AND symptoms have improved. Asymptomatic persons who are not immunocompromised may end isolation when at least 10 days have passed since the date of their first positive diagnostic test and people who are immunocompromised and remain asymptomatic may end isolation when at least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since the date of their first positive diagnostic test.
Work restrictions for healthcare personnel with COVID-19 infection is as follows: For those up to date, completed primary vaccine series only, or unvaccinated, should isolate for 10 days OR 7 days with a negative test if asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic with improving symptoms. Healthcare personnel up to date with their vaccines and are asymptomatic have no work restrictions with negative test on day 2 and a negative test during the 5 to 7-day period. Those employees who completed the primary series of recommended vaccine but have not had recommended boosters when eligible, even if within 90 days of prior infections should quarantine for 10 days OR 7 days with a negative test. People who are immunocompromised and remain asymptomatic should end isolation when at least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since the date of their first positive diagnostic test.
Any employee who comes in close contact with someone with COVID-19 and up to date with vaccination status, should observe precautions for 10 days after last exposure and test on day 5. Healthcare personnel can go to work during 10-day period if their test is negative and no symptoms have developed. Those healthcare professionals who have been in close contact with someone positive for COVID-19 and are not up to date with their vaccines, should quarantine at home for 5 days, and test on day 5 with an antigen test. If the test is positive, isolation should begin. These employees can go to work on days 6 to 10 if an antigen test is negative, no symptoms have developed, and the person can wear a mask.
For the general public, guidelines are as follows: a symptomatic person who is not immunocompromised should isolate until at least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without fever-reducing medications AND symptoms have improved. After day 5, through day 10 they should wear a high-quality mask around others, even at home and should not visit public places where masks are not worn such as restaurants. Traveling on public transportation is discouraged and contact with immunocompromised individuals should be avoided. People who cannot wear a mask including children under 2 years of age and people of any age with certain disabilities should isolate for 10 days. A symptomatic person who is immunocompromised or those who have had moderate to severe illness from COVID-19 should isolate until at least 10 days and up to 20 days have passed since symptoms first appeared AND at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without fever reducing medications AND symptoms have improved. For people who are asymptomatic and not immunocompromised isolation may end when at least 5 days have passed since the date of their first positive diagnostic test and after day 5, through day 10 should wear a high-quality mask around others, even at home. Visits to restaurants or other places which you are unable to wear a mask should be avoided as well as public transportation or having contact with immunocompromised or high-risk individuals such as nursing home residents.
Aside from COVID information, recruitment efforts remain strong and in full force. Visits to local schools who offer adult CNA and nursing classes are scheduled. Also, we are attending a job fair at Lincoln Tech and hosting a job fair & cook out at Waterview Villa on August 2nd from 11AM-1PM. If you know of anyone looking for a job, please invite them to our scheduled job fair. We have posted notices around town in local bakery and pizza shops, as well as the supermarkets. We have included the advertisement on our Facebook page. Please feel free to share if you are on Facebook. Our residents are pleased with our recruitment efforts and ve1y appreciative of the new staff who have joined our team.
As always, thank you for your continued support and be well.
Best regards,
Lori Levine, BSW, LNHA