Weekly Update
Dear Cliffs Family Members and Friends,

As we reach a higher percentage of vaccinated individuals state-wide, the State Department of Health has revised Executive Directive 20-001 to consider vaccination statuses of health care / long term care facility professionals and residents. Yesterday, we attended a webinar that discussed theses changes in detail. Below are the highlights and important information discussed during the webinar that we would like to share with you.

Visitations

  • Visitor screening (questionnaire, handwashing, temperature-taking, signing of Informed Consent Forms) is required for all long-term care facilities regardless of vaccination status.
  • When BOTH visitor and resident are fully vaccinated:
  1. While alone in the patient/resident’s room or the designated visitation room, residents and their visitor(s) may choose to have close contact (including touch) and to remove their facemasks.
  2. While in the facility, visitors should wear facemasks, and physically distance from healthcare personnel and other patients/residents, and visitors that are not part of their group at all other times.
  • Visitation when EITHER the resident or any of their visitors are NOT fully vaccinated:
  1. While in the facility, visitors should wear facemasks and physically distance from healthcare personnel and other residents, and visitors that are not part of their group at all other times.
  2. While alone in the resident’s room or the designated visitation room, the safest approach is for everyone to maintain physical distancing and wear well-fitting facemasks to ensure the safety of the patient/resident and visitor(s).
  3. Fully-vaccinated resident(s), may choose to have close contact (including touch) with their unvaccinated visitor(s), however, visitors AND resident(s) must wear well-fitting facemasks.
  • Residents under quarantine may receive compassionate care and end-of-life visitations.
  • During an outbreak period, compassionate care, essential caregiver, end-of-life, and outdoor visitations will be ongoing.
  • Children under 2 years old may be accommodated for outdoor visitations only. For the resident and the visitor’s safety, we encourage no close contact between the child and the resident.

Communal Activities, Communal Dining and Resident Outings

Communal Activities:
  • Residents with COVID-19 infection or in isolation because of suspected COVID19, regardless of vaccination status, should NOT participate in communal activities, communal dining or off-site excursions until they have met the criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions.
  • Residents in quarantine due to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 exposure, regardless of vaccination status, should NOT participate in communal activities, communal dining or off-site excursions until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.
  • If ALL patients/residents participating in the group activity are fully vaccinated, they may choose to have close contact with others participating in the activity and/or without wearing facemasks.
  • Unvaccinated Residents: If unvaccinated residents are participating in the activity, then ALL participants in the group activity MUST wear well-fitting masks and unvaccinated residents should physically distance from others participating in the group activity.
  • For everybody’s safety, residents will be required to wear masks when navigating the facility and will be allowed to remove their masks when they are in the designated area for activities or dining room for meals. Staff members will strictly implement this protocol.

Communal Dining:
  • Fully Vaccinated Residents: May participate in communal dining without use of facemasks or physical distancing if all residents are considered fully vaccinated.
  • Unvaccinated Residents: In conditions where unvaccinated residents are dining in a communal area (e.g., dining room) all residents MUST use facemasks when not eating and unvaccinated residents should continue to remain at least 6 feet from others who are in the designated communal dining area.
  • ***Please note that ALL residents in our facility that are participating in communal activities and communal dining are fully vaccinated.

Resident Outings / Off-site Excursions:
  • Leaving the Facility: Residents/Family members are required to follow the current Resident Outing Protocol to schedule outings: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Weekly-Update.html?soid=1120640800243&aid=S3TkA1MtIm4   
  • Residents participating in social excursions outside the facility should be educated about the potential risks associated with public settings, particularly if they have not been fully vaccinated, and reminded to avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. They should be encouraged to adhere to and assisted with adhering to all recommended infection prevention and control measures, including well-fitting source control, physical distancing, and hand hygiene.
  • If residents are visiting friends or family in their homes, they should follow the facemask guidance and physical distancing recommendations for visiting with others in private settings as described in the CDC’s: Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.

Testing

  • Fully vaccinated staff members are not required to be tested for COVID-19 unless exposed to individuals with COVID-19.
  • Unvaccinated staff members are required to be tested weekly for COVID-19.
  • Staff members and residents, regardless of vaccination status, should be tested if:
  1. They become symptomatic
  2. Have a high risk exposure or close contact to COVID-19.
  • When a new case is identified, a facility-wide testing every 3-7 days will be initiated immediately until there are no new cases identified in staff members or residents for 14 days.
  1. The facility will suspend general indoor visitation only in the affected unit/area until the facility has no new cases identified in staff members or residents for 14 days. In this case, the facility is divided into the following unit/area/wing:
  • A1 – Apt 101-110 (AL)
  • B1 – Apt 111-116 (Haven)
  • C1 – Apt 117-119 (Haven)
  • D1 – Apt 120-127 (Haven)
  • E2 – Apt 201-207 (AL)
  • F2 – Apt 208-215 (AL)
  • G2 – Apt 216-218 (AL)
  • H2 – Apt. 219-226 (AL)
  • I2 – Apt. 227-233 (AL)
  • J2 – Apt. 234-243 (AL)
  • K2 – Apt. 244-247 (AL)
  1. If the first round of facility-wide testing reveals one or more additional cases originating in other areas/units/wings, then general indoor visitation for all residents, regardless of vaccination status, will be suspended until there are no new cases identified in staff members or residents for 14 days.
  2. If the first round of expanded facility-wide testing (performed on day 3-7) reveals no additional cases originating in any other areas of the facility, then visitation can resume for those areas/units with no cases.
Thank you,
Cliffs Management