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| -Signs, Portents, and the Weather- |
| Nursing homes can now lift most COVID restrictions on visits |
| 2021-11-14 |
| [FoxBusiness] CMS instructs nursing homes to allow visits at all times for all residents The government on Friday directed nursing homes to open their doors wide to visitors, easing many remaining pandemic restrictions while urging residents, families and facility staff to keep their guard up against outbreaks. The new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services instructs nursing homes to allow visits at all times for all residents. Facilities will no longer be able to limit the frequency and length of visits, or require advance scheduling. Although large groups of visitors are discouraged, nursing homes won't be allowed to limit the number of loved ones and friends who can pay a call on residents. Many states and communities are still grappling with COVID-19 surges driven by the aggressive delta variant, but the most recent government data show that cases among residents and staff have continued to decline after rising earlier in the summer and fall. Nationally, vaccination rates average 86% for nursing home residents and 74% for staff, although that can vary dramatically from state to state and facility to facility. Many nursing homes are rushing to provide booster shots for their residents. Staffers were recently required by the government to get vaccinated. This "gets us the closest to pre-pandemic visitation that we've ever been since the beginning of the pandemic," said Jodi Eyigor, director of nursing home quality and policy for LeadingAge, an industry group that represents nonprofit facilities. The federal guidance draws a line on visits by people who have tested positive for COVID or meet the criteria for quarantine. Nursing homes should not allow COVID-positive visitors to enter. But residents can still receive visits if their facility is in the midst of an outbreak investigation or if they themselves are under special precautions to prevent COVID transmission. In such cases, residents and visitors must wear masks and protective gear. It was unclear Friday how the new federal guidance would work with local and state requirements that may be more restrictive. People in long-term care facilities have borne a cruel toll from the pandemic. They represent about 1% of the U.S. population, but accounted for roughly in 3 in 10 deaths. The ravages of COVID were compounded by enforced isolation. Nursing homes went on lockdown in March of last year and residents were unable to see their loved ones in person until early this spring. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #4 Total incoherence now... So grandma's NOT at risk, but school kids are? Nb. the latter are forced to wear masks when playing sports or musical instruments in band or orchestra. Ever tried to run a 440 with a bag around your face or play the trumpet through a face diaper? And little kids at zero risk are now forced to get vaccines that don't work, or that even pose 5x as much risk, in the case of young males and myocarditis risk, as they face from COVID if not vaxxed. F--k these morons. Enough of this madness. |
| Posted by: Merrick Ferret 2021-11-14 08:02 |
| #3 Fearing the discovery of his own misdeeds and committed to protecting his community handlers, Fauci effectively obstructed discovery and truth finding. A top performer, Fauci's age and proximity to retirement are the only inhibiting factors to his potential promotion and advancement within the Federal system. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2021-11-14 06:25 |
| #2 More 'Worms to Turn': The Unmasking of Dr. Mengele S. Fauci "THE SMIRKING LITTLE MAN IN THE WHITE COAT" |
| Posted by: Gluting Pelosi9760 2021-11-14 04:21 |
| #1 As the worm turns; |
| Posted by: Dale 2021-11-14 03:54 |