Kemp’s new COVID-19 order to allow in-person visits at some long-term care facilities
Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday extended many of Georgia’s existing coronavirus restrictions, but paved the way for in-person visitation at the state’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities if certain public health guidelines are met.
The shelter-in-place order remains in effect for those who live in long-term care facilities, but visits would be allowed and “subject to specific criteria and restrictions outlined by the Department of Public Health.”
Previous executive orders banned residents at these facilities from receiving visitors except under certain circumstances, such as receiving medical services or end of life care.
The new order took effect Wednesday and runs through 11:59 p.m. September 30.
Reopening conditions
The reopening of Georgia’s nursing homes and other long-term care facilities will occur in phases as outlined by the Georgia Department of Public Health.
Homes located in counties with a 14-day rate of more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents or a two-week test positivity rate greater than 10% are considered in phase one of reopening. Visitations at these facilities are generally not allowed except for certain circumstances, such as end of life. Activities such as non-medically necessary trips outside the home should be avoided.
Facilities could implement phase two of reopening if all of the following conditions are met:
Baseline testing of residents and direct care staff. This includes testing everyone, except those who tested positive in the past three months.
Last confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case resolved more than 28 days ago.
No flu, norovirus or other outbreaks at the facility.
The county’s 14-day case rate is between 50 and 99 cases per 100,000 residents.
The county’s two-week test positivity is less than 10%.
Outside visits are allowed in phase two if the facility and its staff can support them.
All residents of facilities in phase three “should have the ability to have limited visitations.” Phase three can be implemented if all of the following conditions are met:
Last confirmed or suspected COVID-19 case identified more than 28 days ago
No flu, norovirus or other outbreaks at the facility
The county’s 14-day case rate is less than 50 per 100,000 residents
The county’s two-week test positivity is less than 5%
Phase three homes should develop a limited visitation policy that states how many guests are allowed and addresses the use of personal protective equipment, among other things.
Various safety, sanitation, testing and other related guidelines remain in effect throughout reopening phases.
The order also clarifies language that allows community and state ombudsmen to perform inspections at long-term care facilities. The ombudsmen addresses complaints and advocates for improvements on behalf of residents.
Residents of 639 Georgia long-term care facilities with 25 or more beds have accounted for 13,859 coronavirus cases and 2,407 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the Georgia Department of Community Health. The homes are located across the state.
As of Sept. 15, those facilities account for nearly 38% of Georgia’s total coronavirus deaths. An estimated 10,432 residents recovered after testing positive. Data at smaller facilities is not tracked at the state level.
More details from order
No changes were made to the mandatory safety, sanitation and other related restrictions for businesses and other entities that have been in effect for months.
Local governments may still implement mask mandates provided the county reports more than 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people over a two week period. Gatherings of 50 or more people are banned unless social distancing is maintained.
A copy of the reopening guidelines for long-term care facilities can be found below.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 5:45 PM.