Updated all-in-one mitigation guidance for residential care facilities

 

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team and Infection Prevention and Control Unit   The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment updated the all-in-one mitigation guidance for residential care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and intermediate care facilities. Among the changes is new language around new admissions and residents who leave the facility, specifically how unvaccinated residents may be admitted while a facility is in an outbreak.    Updates include (download the .pdf guidance for clickable section/table of contents links):   Added language to section: New Admissions and Residents Who Leave the Facility Facilities may now admit unvaccinated residents during an outbreak if those prospective residents are informed of the increased risk of COVID-19 transmission and mitigation requirements. Facilities must use the approved CDPHE template document “Unvaccinated RCF admission during a COVID-19 outbreak” linked to in this guidance. Added language to section: Facilities that Identify a Positive Resident or HCP to correspond with new language outlined in the bullet point above.  Added the following clarifying language to the testing table and the OB Exit Testing Section “*During outbreak exit testing, facilities located in counties with substantial to high community transmission with HCP who are not fully vaccinated, should follow the more frequent surveillance testing requirements (test twice weekly utilizing lab-based PCR and daily POC testing prior to the start of every shift).”  Updated language contained in the vaccination section to align with 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 02 rules.  Added information pertaining to companion and therapy animals in the Animal Visitation section.  Added a reference document related to work restrictions for HCP with SARS-CoV-2 infection and exposures. Updated the Decision Tree to align with the changes to the RCF mitigation guidance document. Minor formatting changes throughout the document.   The Residential Care Strike Team and Infection Prevention unit will continue to provide outreach and information through our regular communications channels. Infection prevention-specific questions can always be submitted through this form.   For questions about the updated guidance, please contact: residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us