Health and Medicine
Dr. Russell Amundson-UHC photo
The work and learn-from-home trend has been going on for over a year now due to the pandemic. Besides the mental issues some are dealing with – others are experiencing physical challenges with their lower back. The story from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
Virginia health officials expect about 55,000 residents on average to receive Covid-19 vaccinations each day this week – and again next week. Then the numbers should really pick up, as WFIR’s Evan Jones reports:
This comes as Virginia takes a new step today in efforts to vaccinate more residents. Mass vaccination clinics begin operation this week in three cities, starting today in Danville. The goal is to provide doses in areas deemed to be underserved, and the clinics will remain in place, by appointment, until further notice.
The Virginia Department of Health is permitting visitation to resume at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities in the state. The new guidelines generally permit unrestricted visitations, but there are some circumstances in which there are still limitations as to who can visit. They mostly involve COVID positive test rates in a facility’s surrounding community and whether a visitor has been vaccinated.
NEWS RELEASE: (RICHMOND, VA) – Healthcare facilities in Virginia can expand visitation practices for residents and their families, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) announced March 10. On March 10, the CDC released Updated Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations in Response to COVID-19 Vaccination for all healthcare settings, including but not limited to nursing homes and assisted living facilities. At the same time, CMS released updated COVID-19 Guidelines and Revised Visitation Recommendations for certified nursing homes in response to significant reductions in COVID-19 infections and transmission resulting from ongoing infection control practices and high vaccination rates in the nursing home population.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in Virginia nursing home residents has been consistently decreasing since mid-January; VDH is currently observing the lowest weekly case counts since early summer 2020. As of March 11, 279,969 vaccine doses have been administered to residents and staff in Virginia long-term care facilities. Relaxing current restrictions on indoor visitation might increase the risk for transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in post-acute care facilities. However, Virginia’s progress in the vaccination of residents and healthcare personnel can mitigate some of these risks, and public health officials understand that expanding visitation has substantial benefits to residents.
VDH recommends that per CDC’s updated guidance, indoor visitation could be permitted for all residents except as noted below:
- Indoor visitation for unvaccinated residents should be limited solely to compassionate care situations if the COVID-19 county positivity rate is >10% and <70% of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated.
- Indoor visitation should be limited solely to compassionate care situations, for:
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents with SARS-CoV-2 infection until they have met criteria to discontinue Transmission-Based Precautions.
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated residents in quarantine until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.
- Facilities experiencing outbreaks should continue to follow guidance from their local health department. Nursing homes should also follow guidance from CMS on when visitation should be paused.
- Visitors should be counseled about their potential to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 in the facility if they are permitted to visit.
- Additional recommendations are outlined by CDC and CMS.
It is recommended that all long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, group homes, and other congregate healthcare settings adhere to these guidelines. Facilities should continue to regularly vaccinate new admissions and staff, and should adhere to CMS regulations and guidance for COVID-19 testing, including routine staff testing, testing of individuals with symptoms, and outbreak testing.
Since its inception in April 2020, the Virginia COVID-19 Long-Term Care Task Force has convened as least biweekly to ensure long-term care facilities have the resources they need to combat the virus; strengthen staffing, testing and infection control measures at long-term care facilities; and keep stakeholders informed about the impact of COVID-19 on long-term care facilities. The Task Force, led by VDH and composed of leadership from Virginia state agencies, Virginia’s long-term care and hospital associations, long-term care providers, and long-term care resident advocates, has been critical to the Commonwealth’s efforts to combat COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.
While VDH and the Task Force understands the milestone these updated recommendations represent, we remind Virginians that it is critical that facilities, healthcare personnel, residents and visitors remain vigilant by continuing to follow infection control recommendations such as wearing a well-fitted cloth mask or facemask, physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet between people), hand washing, staying home when sick, and wearing appropriate PPE. This continues to be the safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if either party has not been fully vaccinated.
For more information about Virginia’s efforts to support long-term care facilities, please visit the Virginia Long-Term Care Task Force website.
Dr. Cynthia Morrow/VDH-VT photo
Last night President Joe Biden set May 1 as the date he wants to see all states open COVID vaccine eligibility to everyone 18 and up. Today Dr. Cynthia Morrow with the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts said May 1 is realistic, with any target date depending on having reliable shipments of the COVID vaccines available.
The Virginia Department of Health reports no new Covid-19 deaths in the Roanoke Valley in the latest 24-hour reporting period — a rare occurrence this winter. Many of the recently-reported fatalities have been the result of a death certificate backlog going back to the surge in cases right after the holidays, but it is unclear whether the today’s zero number suggests the backlog has now been cleared. The health department reports 55 new Covid cases in the valley; 24 in Roanoke City, 17 in Roanoke County, nine in Salem and five in Botetourt County.
A Franklin County wedding venue has filed a lawsuit that challenges Governor Northam’s order that limits wedding gatherings to 25 people. but Northam says it is one of many necessary health safety measures. The Roanoke Times reports the lawsuit by Belle Garden Estate in Wirtz contends limitations as they apply to religious-affiliated weddings violate Constitutional protections. Earlier this week, Northam said weddings run the risk of being major spreaders of COVID-19. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more;
Photo: Gene Marrano
Governor Northam tells students and staff at Salem High School he is working to permit more people to attend sports events — and to upcoming graduation ceremonies. The governor and his wife Pam are visiting many schools across the state in his push for greater renewed in-person instruction. Before touring this morning, he spoke on Salem High’s P.A. system:
But any change is not likely until the end of this month. Northam said earlier this week he expects his current executive orders to remain in place through March — but some may be eased or lifted come April first.
COVID-19 case numbers at Virginia Tech are now declining – after peaking much later than most places off campus. It comes as the university tries to balance controlling the virus with making campus life more tolerable. Across Virginia and much of country, COVID-19 cases peaked just after the holidays in early January. At Virginia Tech, that did not occur until late February, about a month after students had returned to campus for the spring semester. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
Click here for the Virginia Tech COVID dashboard.
The head of Virginia’s Covid-19 vaccination program says the state is committed to remain working with the software system used to administer the shots – even though there have been persistent problems with it that up to now remain unresolved. The state paid close to $750,000 for PrepMod to track, report and schedule the vaccinations. One of the big glitches, as it turns out, is that when someone is notified of an appointment opportunity, they can share the signup link with someone else, eligible or not. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story: