On March 10, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) updated select healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations in response to COVID-19 vaccination. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has received approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) that nursing homes and assisted living facilities can follow these recommendations. ODH confirmed this applies to all healthcare personnel (HCP) while at work and all patients and residents while they are being cared for in a healthcare setting.
Quarantine is no longer recommended for residents who are being admitted to a post-acute care facility if they are fully vaccinated and have not had prolonged close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the prior 14 days. This implies that residents who leave the facility (and do not have similar prolonged contact) also do not need to be quarantined upon return. Facilities are urged to have a person-centered approach to reviewing each resident’s entry/return to the facility.
Fully vaccinated residents should continue to quarantine following prolonged close contact (within 6 feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is due to limited information about vaccine effectiveness in this population, the higher risk of severe disease and death, and challenges with physical distancing in healthcare settings
Fully vaccinated healthcare professionals (HCP) with higher-risk exposures who are asymptomatic do not need to be restricted from work for 14 days following their exposure.
The CDC recommends quarantining if the HCP that had a high-risk exposure is immunocompromised. HCP who have traveled should continue to follow CDC travel recommendations and requirements, including restriction from work, when recommended for any traveler.
LeadingAge Ohio staff will be addressing this guidance and additional state and federal updates at next week’s all-member LeadingAge Ohio call on Tuesday, March 23 at 11:30AM. In the meantime, questions can be directed to COVID19@leadingageohio.org.