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This message is to inform Adult Family Homes (AFH), Assisted Living Facilities (ALF), Enhanced Services Facilities (ESF), Certified Community Residential Supports & Services (CCRSS), and Nursing Home (NH) providers on March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updates and simplified respiratory virus recommendations. The updated guidance is intended for community long-term care (LTC) settings. The update includes:
Recommendations on Core Prevention Steps and Strategies Include:
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Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.
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Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
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Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.
Updated Community Guidance for People Who Are Sick with a Respiratory Virus Include:
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Isolate - Stay home and away from others when ill.
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Treat - For COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available that can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness.
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May return to normal activities when all are true for at least 24 hours:
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Once normal activities are resumed - additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days are encouraged to curb disease spread such as:
- Symptoms are improving overall, AND
- Fever has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.
- Taking more steps for cleaner air.
- Enhancing hygiene practices.
- Wearing a well-fitting mask.
- Keeping a distance from others, and/or
- Getting tested for respiratory viruses.
RCS IPC Regulatory Visits in Community Settings:
- Focus on standard and transmission-based precautions.
- Updated forms for AFH, ALF, ESF, and CCRSS Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) inspection and investigation can be found on the DSHS forms site.
There is no change to COVID-19 guidance for the Nursing Home settings:
Nursing Homes will continue to follow:
Related References:
Dear Administrator/Provider letter dated 3/19/2024
Risk Factors for Severe Illness from Respiratory Viruses
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