Residential care visitation

 

To: Residential care facilities On 12/29/20 the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19 was discovered in Colorado. The variant was found in a National Guardsman who was supporting staffing in a residential care facility. Due to good infection control procedures and diligence by both the National Guard and the facility, there was no spread to the residents. As a result of the variance’s presence in Colorado, CDPHE would like to urge residential care facilities to be extra diligent to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The variant is significantly more contagious than the original strain of COVID-19. Facilities may continue to have both indoor and outdoor visitation when eligible, according to the Fifth Amended Public Health Order 20-20 and the current visitation guidance. However, CDPHE urges facilities to use caution with visitation. CDPHE will allow facilities to halt visits if there are concerns about the ability for residents to have safe visitation. The state lab continues to investigate the variant strain of COVID-19 and how to detect it. As more information becomes available, CDPHE will distribute that information. Peter Myers Residential Care Strike Team Branch Chief Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division Peter.myers@state.co.us