COVID-19 Updates

11/19/20: In the latest batch of COVID-19 tests processed this week, we had two positive tests this morning.  The first is a direct care assisted living employee and the second is a direct care employee of the nursing home.  The Dane County Department of Public Health has been made aware and have recommended we continue to follow our existing precautions;  weekly testing, alternative visitation, masking, social distancing, utilization of PPE, screening all for symptoms and checking temperatures.  No residents have tested positive.

The following is recently released guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) related to limiting virus exposure during the Holiday Season.  Due to our current positive tests and the rising positivity rates in Wisconsin, we will be following this guidance for the nursing home, Heritage Center and Magnolia Gardens this Holiday Season.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recommends against residents leaving the nursing home during this Public Health Emergency. Leaving the nursing home could increase a resident’s risk for exposure to COVID-19. The risk may be further increased by factors such as a resident’s health status, the spread of COVID-19 in the community (e.g., cases or positivity rate), or attendance at large gatherings. Residents can stay connected with loved ones through alternative means of communication, such as phone and video communication. Should a resident ultimately choose to leave the nursing home, CMS is providing the following recommendations:

• Limit close contact (maintain physical distancing of six feet or more), keep gatherings as small as possible, and use technology to engage with others remotely;
• Wear facemasks or cloth face covering at all times (including in cars, homes, restaurants, etc.);
• Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items;
• Keep safe around food and drinks. Avoid communal serving utensils, passing of food, potluck or buffet style food service, and instead opt for individually prepared plates by a single server;
• Perform hand hygiene often (e.g., wash hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer);
• Avoid large gatherings, crowded areas, and high-risk activities such as singing;
• For those attending a gathering, avoid contact with individuals outside of their household for 14 days prior to the gathering;
• Ask anyone who has signs or symptoms of COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID-19, to not attend the gathering;
• If possible, conduct gatherings outdoors. Indoor gatherings should have good ventilation, open windows and doors if possible;
• Verbally greet others instead of shaking hands or giving hugs. Think ahead about how you will manage to prevent physical interactions with loved ones of different ages such as young children; and
• Check local conditions and state requirements for precautions and restrictions, including positivity rates and quarantine requirements, before crossing state lines.

Additionally, while the above actions can greatly reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, due to the highly contagious nature of the virus, we recommend nursing homes take the following actions when residents return to the nursing home:

• Screen and increase monitoring for signs and symptoms.
• Test a resident for COVID-19 if signs or symptoms are present or if a resident or their family reports possible exposure to COVID-19 while outside the nursing home. A nursing home may also opt to test residents without signs or symptoms if they leave the nursing home frequently or for a prolonged length of time, such as over 24 hours.
• Place the resident on transmission-based precautions (TBP) if the resident or family member reports possible exposure to COVID-19 while outside of the nursing home, or if the resident has signs or symptoms of COVID-19 upon return. Please note that residents and loved ones should report to the nursing home staff if they have had any exposure to COVID-19 while outside of the nursing home.
• Consider placing residents on TBP if they were away from the nursing homes for more than 24 hours