Updated Residential Care Facility Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance

To: Residential care facilities (Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities, Group Homes, and Intermediate Care Facilities)   From: CDPHE Residential Care Strike Team and Infection Prevention Program   The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment updated testing requirements in the Residential Care Facility (RCF) Comprehensive Mitigation Guidance document. You can find the changes within the “Testing Table” beginning on page 36. Read the summary of recent changes below as they are meant to more closely align with CDC recommendations and allow for less point of care testing during the following circumstances:   Updated point of care testing information in the testing table. Asymptomatic HCP who are up to date: The number of required days of point of care testing decreased to seven days to align with the length of quarantine change on March 28, 2022. Newly admitted residents and those that have left the facility for >24 hours: Removed the requirement for point of care testing due to resident requirement for a private room, transmission-based precautions, and health care provider use of PPE. Residents with close contact to someone with SARS-CoV-2- Removed the requirement for point of care testing due to resident requirement for a private room, transmission-based precautions, and health care provider use of PPE. Routine surveillance testing: HCP who are not up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses in counties with moderate community transmission are no longer required to undergo daily point of care testing. This change is meant to more closely align with CDC guidance. During moderate transmission, once-weekly PCR testing will still be required.       Facilities must use the Community Transmission Level to determine the appropriate testing cadence, source control, and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) required instead of the COVID-19 Community Levels (not for use in healthcare settings).    Email questions to residentialcarestriketeam@state.co.us and/or cdphe_covid_infection_prevention@state.co.us.