On-site intervention improves residents’ COVID-19 outcomes
A medicalized program has increased survival rates and reduced hospital referrals during facility-wide virus outbreaks, researchers say.
Infection Control
Despite PPE, healthcare workers face greater risk of positive COVID-19 test
Frontline providers with access to “adequate” personal protective equipment are three times more likely to test positive for the coronavirus than the general public. The rate rises to fivefold among workers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, say researchers.
Juniper CEO: Restoring ‘new normal’ in senior living is about COVID lessons learned
Juniper Communities created an early COVID-19 battle plan using cohorting and universal testing. Today the majority of its communities are testing 100% negative for the virus, says founder and CEO Lynne Katzmann.
Operator turns to UV light to halt transmission of COVID-19
While others may be trying a flurry of disparate approaches, one Michigan-based operator is banking on ultraviolet (UV) light as a mitigation tactic against COVID-19 at its long-term care facilities.
Masks protect the wearer and may lead to milder disease, experts claim
Most masks will block at least some coronavirus particles — staving off severe disease if exposure does occur, a new analysis suggests.
CMS: Pandemic relief to nursing homes tied to infection control training, weekly testing
To qualify for CARES Act funds, eldercare facilities must take part in CMS’s online COVID-19 training program. The agency also expects to require weekly staff testing in certain cases.
Isolate for 10 days after positive COVID-19 test, health officials now say
A new symptom-based strategy aims to end “unnecessary prolonged isolation” for people diagnosed with COVID-19 — and to help relieve pressure on overburdened diagnostic labs, says the CDC.
High local COVID-19 rates put nursing homes at risk, Genesis study finds
Investigators tracked outbreaks in Genesis skilled nursing facilities across 25 states and alongside more than 3,000 other facility operators.
CDC to recommend against COVID-19 retesting
The action will reduce “medically unnecessary” work for overburdened diagnostic laboratories, according to the White House’s testing czar.
COVID-19 mitigation tactics, flu shots key for upcoming flu season, CDC chief says
The COVID-19 mitigation strategies of social distancing, face coverings and handwashing not only will help to curb the spread of the coronavirus, they will help to lessen the severity of the upcoming flu season, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
