Dear Community,

I hope this finds you all safe and in good health. Many of you and your loved ones have been suffering because you have not been able to visit your family and friends in nursing homes. Residents of these facilities have been deeply affected by the loss of personal contact. I have been following this issue closely and am very happy about the newly released guidance that will allow more visitation to occur. Please see the governor's announcement below.

Yours in health,
Anna

Governor Cuomo & State Health Commissioner Dr. Zucker Announce Revised Nursing Home Visitation Guidance to Align with Federal CMS Guidelines

Visitation Permitted for All Residents in Nursing Homes with Limited Exceptions

Department of Health Guidance Can Be Found Here

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker today announced the release of revised nursing home visitation guidance to align with guidelines recently released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.The guidance, which takes effect immediately, permits visitation at all times and for all residents with limited exceptions for unvaccinated residents in areas of high community spread and lower resident vaccination rates, residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection or those in isolation or quarantine. Facilities must still continue to adhere to strong infection control practices.

"From the very beginning we've used science and data to find the appropriate balance between protecting our most vulnerable populations in nursing homes and the importance of allowing safe contact with their loved ones," Governor Cuomo said. "We now have three effective vaccines that are leading to significant decreases in long term care COVID cases and a robust staff testing system to limit community spread from entering a facility. Now is an appropriate time to take the next step and safely reconnect this community with their families."

The number of positive cases in nursing homes have decreased more than 80% since peaking in mid-January during a second COVID post-holiday surge. DOH strongly recommends that all facilities offer testing for visitors as COVID-19 is still present in communities statewide. Compassionate Care visits, which had previously been allowed in all facilities at all times, will continue under this new guidance.

New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, "We understand the emotional toll that this community has experienced by being separated from their loved ones during a particularly challenging year. We're confident that these facilities can continue strong infection control practices that will allow for the safe visitation they have dearly missed."

This guidance replaces the February 23rd guidance which required a facility to be COVID free for 14 days.