On October 19, 2020, the CDC updated guidelines on COVID-19 and said that public transportation operators “should refuse boarding” to passengers who don’t wear a face mask to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The CDC reemphasized current guidelines for wearing masks on planes, ships, ferries, trains, subways, buses, taxis and ride-shares and said masks should be worn in airports, …
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with intellectual Disabilities, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and dedicated hospice facilities, collectively referred to as post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) facilities, may need to adjust operations and standards of care in order to preserve and effectively allocate limited …
There has been a lot of discussion on the risks of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced many changes in 2020 that we have no control over. These changes have had even more impact on our residents and families. We are no longer able to celebrate special events, dine in our dining rooms, hug our family members, …
The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 across the world has created unprecedented healthcare, social, and economic disaster. With the most significant mode of transmission considered to be through aerosolized droplets, wearing masks and social distancing can significantly decrease transmission and spread. Nasal rinses and mouthwashes which directly treat the major sites of reception and transmission of HCoV, may provide an additional …
As reported in McKnight’s Senior Living publication on October 16, 2020, we have become an innovative sector! A California-based senior living company is adopting the COVID-19 testing approach of professional sports teams to create “safety bubbles” among its staff and residents. The testing process provides accuracy levels that mirror typical PCR tests. Pools of up to 100 associates and residents …
Impact 2020 BY KATIE CAMERO SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 During the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization estimated that each sick individual was infecting an average of two others. This “basic reproductive number” or (RO) and pronounced “R naught”, reveals how contagious a disease is. Now, new research from Duke University says the number was likely twice …
In an article published in Provider Magazine (AHCA/NCAL), CEO Mark Parkinson likened the COVID-19 pandemic to a marathon. In hindsight that makes a lot of sense! When we were first made aware of the virus, it was in China and other parts of the world. We weren’t the first to get infected and many of us basically said “nah, they …
In an article published in Medscape on October 12, 2020, there have been two confirmed cases of COVID-19 reinfections in the United States. A 25-year-old man from Nevada and a 42-year-old man in Virginia experienced second bouts of COVID-19 about 2 months after they tested positive the first time. Gene tests show both men had two slightly different strains of …
Small gatherings are becoming a growing source of COVID-19 spread, as cases and hospitalizations are on the rise nationwide. “In the public square, we’re seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield during a call with the nation’s governors on Tuesday, October 13th. Redfield went on to say “but what …
Among 355 nursing homes in New York State for which data on COVID-19 mortality rates were available, the presence of a health care worker union was associated with a 30% lower mortality rate from COVID-19 among nursing home residents. The findings were robust to adjustment for a range of covariates and specification checks for bias from missing data. We also …
