Recently Released CDPH Isolation Guidance for COVID-19

Dear LA County Skilled Nursing Facility administrator and staff,

Last week, both CDPH and Cal/OSHA updated the State Public Health Officer Order for COVID-19 Disease Control and Prevention and related guidance documents for the general population and the COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations for workplaces, respectively. Public Health also released new instructions for COVID-19 cases and close contacts for the general population.

However, our local COVID-19 isolation guidance for Community Care Facilities (CCFs), which includes Community Care Licensing Division facilities, Intermediate Care Facilities, and Congregate Living Healthcare Facilities, remains unchanged and more protective. The infectious period for COVID-19 transmission has not changed. Because of the congregate living arrangements in CCFs, the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains higher in these settings compared with the general population. In addition, there is a high prevalence of certain medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19 among people who are living in our facilities, increasing the risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 in this population.

The guidance for CCF staff and residents with COVID-19 continues to be to isolate for 5 days after symptom onset or, if they do not have symptoms, after their first positive test.

All individuals with COVID-19 need to wear a well-fitting, high-quality mask for a total of 10 days after their symptoms began or, if they do not have symptoms, the date of their initial positive test, whenever they are around others. This includes individuals who test positive and have no symptoms or only mild symptoms.

Long-term care facilities should also continue to test close contacts of COVID-19 positive individuals and continue source control by enforcing masking indoors. Above all, the most effective way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 is to have all staff and residents be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines.

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep your staff and residents safe.

Thank you!

Acute Communicable Disease Control

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

Additional SNF resources: 

• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) Homepage for Skilled Nursing Facilities for many infection prevention & control news, resources, tools, and educational opportunities: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/SNF/index.htm
• LAC DPH’s “Guidelines for Preventing & Managing COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities”: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/healthfacilities/snf/prevention/  
• LAC DPH Reportable Diseases and Conditions Requirements: http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/cdrs.htm

If you have any questions or concerns related to this email or SNF related questions, please continue to send your email to DPH-LACSNF: LACSNF@ph.lacounty.gov.

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