Gov. Stitt issued an amended executive order allowing visitation to resume at long-term care facilities.
Officials said the visitation will resume in a phased approached beginning June 15.
It is important we take a measured and responsible approach to allowing visitors to our nursing homes and long-term care facilities, just as we did with the rest of our state. This guidance will allow us to continue to protect the health and lives of Oklahomans while allowing them to safely resume valuable interactions with their loved ones.
The guidance includes three phases that focus on PPE availability, prevalence of coronavirus in each facility and its surround communities, staffing levels and local hospital capacity.
The following information will be required to be submitted by all nursing, skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day care, residential care and intermediate care facilities for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities:
- The name, phone number and email of a licensed health care professional to serve as their infection preventionist
- Evidence the infection preventionist completed a CDC training course
- A monitoring plan for the facility’s infection surveillance, staff training and infection prevention and control practices
The Health Department has worked closely with communities and providers on safely easing in visitations for residents at nursing homes and long-term care facilities across Oklahoma. Our mission is to support the mental health and quality of life for residents, while also taking into consideration the realities of COVID-19. We encourage families as they reunite with their loved ones to consider getting tested in advance and to wear masks for visitations and closely follow heightened protocols at the facilities.
Officials said the State of Oklahoma is currently working on a grant program to use CARES Act funding to enhance infectious disease prevention for long-term care facilities.
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