Update from Administrator – January 20, 2022
Hello Family and Friends of Valerie Manor. We hope this week finds you safe and well…
Some updates from our communication last week. State Covid Positivity rates are down to 16% and hospitalization rates remain high. Although Declining…we are not out of the woods. During our weekly staff testing we discovered staff that had community-based exposures totaling 5 staff members currently out with Covid 19 …Those individuals are following CDC quarantine guidelines and are not allowed in the facility per CDC until the proper quarantine has been completed. Also, In addition to our initial community based exposures, three residents tested positive after outside medical appointments and/or visitor exposures. These residents are isolated following current CDC/DPH guidelines. This totals 8 residents with Positive covid stemming from direct or indirect community exposures. We continue to be vigilant about protecting loved ones and ensure proper social distancing, masking, and infection prevention protocols are followed, even outside our center. With the Community at large seeing a large surge in cases…
With the increased cases of Community exposures, there are new guidelines for Visitors in Nursing homes. As you may have heard by now, effective Saturday, January 22, through Executive Order 14F from Governor Lamont all visitors to our facility must provide either proof of their full dose of COVID-19 vaccine or show evidence of having a negative COVID-19 test (PCR within 72 hrs. -or- Antigen/rapid within 48 hours). Proof Can be either electronic or actual documentation. We will not maintain these records in the facility so you will need to provide proof at every visit.
You can view the details of the Executive order 14f through this link
In Summary: Executive Order 14F requires, visitors to do one of the following prior to Entering Resident areas of the facility:
- Provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and if eligible, have received the COVID-19 booster
OR
- Provide paper or electronic proof of a negative COVID-19 test result from either:
- A rapid antigen test completed within the previous 48 hours
- A PCR test completed within the past 72 hours
OR
- Take a rapid test at the nursing home in a form and manner as directed by DPH (self-test kits to be provided by DPH to facility and visitor is to self-administer following instructions on test. Visitor Should wait outside facility until results are available) Results to be shown to facility prior to entry.
Please Note: The order requires nursing homes to deny entrance to any visitor that tests positive for COVID-19 or who refuses to take a rapid antigen test. The order further provides, according to guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, that a nursing home cannot deny entrance to any visitor who is willing to take a rapid antigen test but is unable to do so because DPH did not/Has not supplied enough rapid test kits to the nursing home and is not able to provide a rapid antigen test at the time of the visit.
- All visitors must free of symptoms relating to COVID-19, including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- If a visitor has had a recent positive viral test for COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19, or currently meet the criteria for quarantine, THEY CANNOT enter our facility
- It is imperative that all visitors use proper hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is recommended) upon arrival at our facilities.
- All visitors must wear their mask at all times in the facility, regardless of vaccination status.
- Visitors must maintain physical distancing of at least six feet – in accordance with CDC guidance.
- If a visitor gives permission, the facility may keep a copy of their vaccination card on file.
- Visitors must be denied entrance if they have tested positive within the past 10 days. Can resume visitation after completion of the isolation period as long as symptoms have improved.
- Unvaccinated Visitors must be denied entrance if they have had a direct exposure for 14 days, unless they have been COVID positive within the last 90 days.
- When entering our center, all visitors must review the instructional signage and visitor education on COVID- 19 signs and symptoms, infection control precautions, other applicable facility practices (e.g., use of face covering or mask, specified entries, exits and routes to designated areas, hand hygiene).
Current Guidelines are in affect 1/22-2/15 unless otherwise extended by DPH. Please also note that the limited number of tests we will receive from DPH are to allow safe visitation of our residents. It is not to be used as a Testing station for personal need and the results are not maintained or reported to any regulatory agency by the facility. We encourage everyone to either get vaccinated or get regularly tested at an approved testing location and maintain those records if needed for your own safety and for the safety of your loved ones.
Our center reserves the right to deny entry for those who do not comply with the above noted safety measures and protocols. Your compliance is vital to keeping our staff and residents safe – and we thank you for your continued assistance and understanding during these uncertain times.
Craig Dumont
Administrator