COVID-19: New Recommendations from the CDC for Staff in LTCs
Jeannine LeCompte, Compliant Research Specialist
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new recommendations for long-term care facilities (LTCs) in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which are aimed at preventing the disease from entering facilities, and identifying and managing the illness if detected among residents.
The CDC has also reiterated the importance of educating residents, staff, and visitors about precautions being taken in the facility. Administrators must reinforce sick leave policies and remind healthcare professionals (HCP) and consultant personnel (e.g., wound care, podiatry, vendors) not to report to work when ill. Facilities should implement sick leave policies that are non-punitive, flexible, and consistent with public health policies that allow ill HCP to stay home.
In addition, adherence to standard infection prevention and control measures must be reinforced. This includes hand hygiene and selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). HCP should demonstrate competency with putting on and removing PPE, and adherence should be monitored by observing resident care activities.
Facilities should create or review an inventory of all vendors and consultants who provide care in the facility. Use that inventory to determine which personnel are non-essential and whose services can be delayed. Non-essential healthcare personnel and volunteers should be restricted from entering the building, and elective consultations should be canceled. Wherever possible, the facility should consider implementing telehealth to offer remote access to care activities.
As part of source control efforts, HCP should wear a facemask or cloth face covering at all times while they are in the healthcare facility. When available, facemasks are generally preferred over cloth face coverings for HCP, as facemasks offer both source control and protection for the wearer against exposure to splashes and sprays of infectious material from others.
If there are shortages of facemasks, they should be prioritized for HCP and then for residents with symptoms of COVID-19 (as supply allows).
Cloth face coverings should not be worn instead of a respirator or facemask if more than source control is required.
All HCP should be reminded to practice social distancing when in break rooms or common areas.
As part of routine practice, HCP (including consultant personnel and ancillary staff such as environmental and dietary services) should be asked to regularly monitor themselves for fever and symptoms of COVID-19. HCP should be reminded to stay home when they are ill.
If HCP develop fever or symptoms of COVID-19 while at work they should keep their facemask on, inform their supervisor, and leave the workplace.
Source: “Preparing for COVID-19: Long-term Care Facilities, Nursing Homes,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/long-term-care.html.
