COVID-19 Updates at Aleca
COVID-19 updates
Doing more and giving our best when you need it most.
Dear Visitors and Families:
Even after the expiration of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided guidance to ensure the health and safety of patients, staff, and visitors. This guidance applies to all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including nursing homes and home health.
This interim guidance has been updated based on currently available information about COVID-19 and the current situation in the United States. Updates were made to reflect the high levels of vaccine-and infection-induced immunity and the availability of effective treatments and prevention tools. This guidance provides a framework for facilities to implement select infection prevention and control practices (e.g., universal source control) based on their individual circumstances (e.g., levels of respiratory virus transmission in the community).
CDC Recommendations: (Source: Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | CDC
By adhering to and/or cooperating with these practices, you are helping us to keep our residents, patients, and staff safe.
1. Routine infection prevention and control (IPC) practices during the COVID-19 pandemic
- We encourage everyone to remain up to date with all recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Health Care Personnel (HCP), patients, and visitors should be offered resources and counseled about the importance of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
- We have established a Process to Identify and Manage Individuals with Suspected or Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection
- Our facilities have visual alerts at the entrance and in strategic places (e.g., waiting areas, elevators, cafeterias) to make everyone aware of the infection control practices (IPC) within the facility. These alerts should include instructions about current IPC recommendations (e.g., when to use source control and perform hand hygiene).
- Visitation:
- Everyone entering the facility is made aware of recommended actions to prevent transmission to others if they have any of the following three criteria:
- a positive viral test for SARS-CoV-2
- symptoms of COVID-19, or
- close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection (for patients and visitors) or a higher-risk exposure (for healthcare personnel (HCP).
- Visitors with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection or compatible symptoms should defer non-urgent in-person visitation until they have met the healthcare criteria to end isolation (see Section 2); this time period is longer than what is recommended in the community. For visitors who have had close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection or were in another situation that put them at higher risk for transmission, it is safest to defer non-urgent in-person visitation until 10 days after their close contact if they meet any of the criteria described in Section 2 (e.g., cannot wear source control).
- Everyone entering the facility is made aware of recommended actions to prevent transmission to others if they have any of the following three criteria:
- Practice other Core Principles of Infection Control
- hand hygiene (use of alcohol-based hand rub is preferred);
- cleaning and disinfecting high frequency touched surfaces
- in the facility often, and designated visitation areas after each visit;
- appropriate staff use of personal protective equipment (PPE);
- physical distancing (at least six feet between persons), as recommended;
- proper cough etiquette
2. Implement Source Control Measures
Source control refers to use of respirators or well-fitting facemasks or cloth masks to cover a person’s mouth and nose to prevent spread of respiratory secretions when they are breathing, talking, sneezing, or coughing. Masks and respirators also offer varying levels of protection to the wearer. Further information about types of masks and respirators, including those that meet standards and the degree of protection offered to the wearer, is available at: Masks and Respirators. People, particularly those at high risk for severe illness, should wear the most protective mask or respirator they can that fits well and that they will wear consistently.
Even when our facility does not require masking for source control, we will allow individuals to use a mask or respirator based on personal preference, informed by their perceived level of risk for infection based on their recent activities (e.g., attending crowded indoor gatherings with poor ventilation) and their potential for developing severe disease if they are exposed.
Links to Covid-19 Resources:
Infection Control: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | CDC
Covid-19 Vaccination: Clinical Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination | CDC