The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has asked us to share the following information with you about respiratory outbreaks and the coronavirus in particular. We specifically asked VDH for guidance on your behalf as some health systems reached out to me for information on placements in nursing centers or assisted living facilities.
Dear Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Partners,
As VDH is responding to the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak (2019-nCoV), we want to provide relevant information for long-term care and assisted living facilities.
1.Keep in mind that influenza activity remains widespread in Virginia, and flu outbreaks from congregate settings continue to be reported. Respiratory precautions should focus on the prevention of flu. A VDH letter on the prevention of respiratory outbreaks in residential or day programs still provides pertinent information. It is posted on the VDH website.
If you are no longer receiving weekly flu updates from VDH, see the 2019-20 Influenza Surveillance webpage. (You can sign up on the right-hand side to receive the Weekly Influenza Activity Report and/or information on What's New with the Flu?
2.VDH has received questions from nursing homes regarding testing results for typical human coronaviruses. Please see this document that will also be posted to the VDH website. This information may be shared.
3.For general information on the 2019-nCoV response, see www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.
This webpage continues to be updated.
Please let us know what questions you have; we can share additional guidance as needed.
VDH Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Response Team
If I can be of any assistance to you, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
April Payne, LNHA
Vice President of Quality Improvement | Director of VCAL
Virginia Health Care Association | Virginia Center for Assisted Living
