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 state has released updated guidance modifying the enhanced infection prevention mitigation requirements for facilities.
On June 21, 2021, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) began notifying select facilities and counties of increased infection control measures in response to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. Some of that guidance has been included in the updated mitigation guidance and adopted for all Colorado residential care facilities. For those facilities that are currently under enhanced infection control measures, transition to the updated guidance when you receive a personalized letter from the Infection Prevention Team.
Full Overview of Changes to the Residential Care Mitigation Document
- Added use of rapid (molecular or antigen) surveillance and outbreak testing in addition to PCR testing for unvaccinated staff and residents.
- Added clarification that facilities should use a CDPHE contracted lab for PCR testing or ensure whole genome sequencing of specimens is possible (either performed at non-CDPHE contracted lab with results reported to CDPHE or lab sends positive specimen to CDPHE for sequencing).
- Updated outbreak decision testing tree.
- Added required eye protection for unvaccinated staff members when outbreak testing is initiated.
- Removed crisis standards of care for PPE (e.g., CDCs crisis capacity strategies) as an option for Colorado healthcare facilities.
- Clarification added for testing and/or vaccination requirements for providers of ancillary non-medical services.
- To align with CMS, added the requirement to stop indoor visitation immediately when one or more positive cases are identified.
- To align with CMS, added clarification that outbreak testing following identification of one or more positive cases must be initiated immediately.
- Added information about monoclonal antibody therapy including the need for residents who are diagnosed with COVID-19 to be promptly evaluated by a health care provider to determine treatment eligibility.
We understand implementing new guidance can be difficult and time-consuming. Please review the new guidance and we will send additional information in the coming days. For those facilities that are currently under enhanced infection control measures, transition to the updated guidance when you receive your personalized letter. We have developed a letter for residential care facility family members to inform on the current mitigation guideline status, please distribute at your leisure. Please be on the lookout for the following messages:
- Monday, July 26 • An in-depth description of the rapid testing rollout. In the meantime, facilities are encouraged to get started on the required CLIA waiver application in order to perform rapid tests at the facility. This information will also be covered step-by-step in upcoming testing webinars.
- Wednesday, July 28 •The biweekly long-term care webinar with an in-depth explanation about the updated guidance
For questions about the updated guidance, please contact:
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