New Visitation Guidance

 

August 12, 2021

 

RE: New Visitation Guidance

 

Dearest Resident Family Members and Visitors-

The State of California – Health and Human Services Agency, California Department of Public Health released new guidance about visitation in Nursing Homes on August 5th, 2021. Listed below is a basic breakdown of how the visitation requirements have changed for indoor visitation:

• Visitors must provide evidence of completed vaccination, or
• For unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated visitors, verify documentation of a negative SARS-CoV-2 test within 72 hours of the visit.
• Only the following documents will be accepted as proof of vaccination:
  •  COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card (issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention or WHO Yellow Card) which includes name of person vaccinated, type of vaccine provided, and date last dose administered); OR
  • A photo of a Vaccination Record Card as a separate document; OR
  • A photo of the client’s Vaccination Record Card stored on a phone or electronic device, OR
  • Documentation of COVID-19 vaccination from a health care provider; OR
  • Digital record that includes a QR code that when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader displays to the reader client name, date of birth, vaccine dates and vaccine type.

All visitors, regardless of vaccination status or test results, must:

• Wear a well-fitting face mask (a surgical mask) upon entry and at all times within the facility;
• Wear any other personal protective equipment (PPE) while in the patient’s room that facility personnel deem appropriate to the situation; and
• Physically distance from health care personnel and other patients/residents/visitors that aren’t part of their group at all times while in the facility.

For your information:

• Unvaccinated staff must undergo twice a week SARS-CoV-2 testing and wear a N95 face mask.
• Unvaccinated residents are placed in a designated quarantine area upon admission or return for a 24+ absence from the facility and upon completion of a 14 day observation period, they are discharged from the quarantine area and placed in the general population.
• Unvaccinated residents who require dialysis require weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing.

The facility appreciates your understanding and compliance as COVID gains momentum in our community. These practices have been put in place to not only protect your loved ones but for your safety as well.

Sincerely,

Logan Cooley
Administrator