Texas will allow limited visits at nursing homes with no active COVID cases
Families will soon be able to visit their loved ones living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in person under new rules announced Thursday by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
At the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, the agency has barred nonessential visitors to nursing homes since March in an effort to protect vulnerable residents from the novel coronavirus’ spread. In recent weeks, lawmakers have called on the agency to relax its rules to allow limited family visits.
“Access to family and loved ones is an important part of every resident’s health and well-being, which is why this policy shift is a move in the right direction for some of our most fragile Texans,” Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, a Republican from Brenham and chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, said in a statement Thursday.
To ensure the safety of staff and residents, visitors will have to abide by certain measures, including no physical contact.
Under the agency’s new rules, nursing home visits may only occur outdoors. In order for a nursing home to allow visitors, it must have had no confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff in the last 14 days, no active cases among residents and staff must be tested weekly. In addition, nursing homes that have seen previous outbreaks must ensure they have adequate staff and are following infection control procedures.
At long-term care facilities, both outdoor and limited indoor visits with the use of plexiglass as a divider will be permitted. Similarly, a facility must have had no positive COVID-19 cases among staff in the last 14 days, no active cases among residents, adequate staffing and comply with infection control measures.
In a news release, HHSC said additional guidance, including on window visits and vehicle parades, would be posted on its webpage for providers.
“This is a rapidly evolving situation and we are constantly assessing what actions are necessary to keep residents and staff safe in these facilities,” Phil Wilson, HHSC’s executive commissioner, said in a statement. “By following these procedures and rules, facilities can more effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help us achieve our shared goal of reuniting residents with their families and friends.”
The agency also announced enhanced emergency rules for nursing homes, requiring each facility to have plans that note staff should not change destinations each day, unless they’re the designated staff to work with residents who have tested positive for COVID-19. They must also have plans that outline how the facility will acquire and maintain a two-week supply of personal protective equipment, like face masks, and how residents will be cared for after recovering from COVID-19.
Each facility must also screen all staff and visitors, and residents must be screened at least three times each day for possible COVID-19 symptoms.
Nursing homes have become hot spots for the virus’ outbreak in Texas. An elderly man who lived in an Arlington retirement center was the first to die from COVID-19 in Tarrant County.
As of Wednesday, 713 nursing homes across Texas had self-reported current outbreaks to the state.
In Tarrant County nursing homes and assisted living facilities, more than 750 residents and 400 employees have contracted the novel coronavirus, and at least 140 residents have died and tested positive for it, according to state data released last week.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:47 PM.
