The CDC updated its infection prevention strategies after the public health emergency expired, making two important changes for assisted living communities.
The changes, made May 8, updated recommendations for universal source control and admission tests in nursing homes and added an appendix on how and when to implement broader use of source control.
The updates apply to group homes and other residential care settings where "staff provide non-skilled personal care similar to that provided by family members in the home." They were made to "reflect the high levels of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity" and the availability of treatments.
Here are four other recommendations to know:
- The CDC will no longer receive data on community transmission levels for COVID-19.
- The agency recommends that assisted living, group homes and other residential care settings — excluding nursing homes — follow community prevention strategies based on COVID-19 hospital admission data.
- Residents should also be educated on ways to protect themselves, including masking.
- Visiting or shared healthcare personnel should follow the infection prevention control recommendations for healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.