Unprecedented solutions for extraordinary times: helping long-term care settings deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. | PSNet

Unprecedented solutions for extraordinary times: helping long-term care settings deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. | PSNet

Unprecedented solutions for extraordinary times: helping long-term care settings deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gaur S, Dumyati G, Nace DA, et al.  Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2020

This commentary discusses the provision of safe care in long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors propose the following measures to ensure the safety of long-term care patients:

• facilities should only accept patients with COVID-19 infections if they can provide effective airborne isolation;
• patients recovering from COVID-19 need to have 2 negative tests on 2 consecutive days, as well as remain fever-free without mediation for at least 48 hours and not require ventilatory support that generates aerosols;
• facilities should screen potential admissions for typical and atypical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and;
• facilities that are currently COVID-19 naïve should not accept any new admissions for whom there may be a concern for COVID-19.