Facilities should ensure there is a separate area for new admissions or readmissions according to the CDC guidance. If the facility’s 14-day observation unit has been staying at capacity, look at expanding the number of beds or adding a second unit. Providers should also recognize that if the resident has recovered from COVID-19 and has met the criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions, the resident being admitted to the skilled nursing facility does not need to go into the 14-day observation unit.
CDC Considerations for New Admissions or Readmission to the Facility
- Newly admitted and readmitted residents with confirmed COVID-19 who have not met criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions should go to the designated COVID-19 care unit.
- Newly admitted and readmitted residents with COVID-19 who have met criteria for discontinuation of Transmission-Based Precautions can go to a regular unit.
- If Transmission-Based Precautions have been discontinued, but the resident with COVID-19 remains symptomatic (i.e., persistent symptoms or chronic symptoms above baseline), the resident can be housed on a regular unit but should remain in a private room until symptoms resolve or return to baseline. These individuals should remain in their rooms to the extent possible during this time period. If the resident must leave his/her room, facilities should reinforce adherence to universal source control policies and social distancing [e.g., perform frequent hand hygiene, have the resident wear a cloth face covering or facemask (if tolerated) and remain at least 6 feet away from others when outside of their room].
- Create a plan for managing new admissions and readmissions whose COVID-19 status is unknown. Options include placement in a single room or in a separate observation area so the resident can be monitored for evidence of COVID-19.
- All recommended COVID-19 PPE should be worn during care of residents under observation, which includes use of an N95 or higher-level respirator (or facemask if a respirator is not available), eye protection (i.e., goggles or a disposable face shield that covers the front and sides of the face), gloves, and gown.
- Testing residents upon admission could identify those who are infected but otherwise without symptoms and might help direct placement of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infected residents into the COVID-19 care unit. However, a single negative test upon admission does not mean that the resident was not exposed or will not become infected in the future. Newly admitted or readmitted residents should still be monitored for evidence of COVID-19 for 14 days after admission and cared for using all recommended COVID-19 PPE. Testing should not be required prior to transfer of a resident from an acute-care facility to a nursing home.
- New residents could be transferred out of the observation area or from a single to a multi-resident room if they remain afebrile and without symptoms for 14 days after their last exposure (e.g., date of admission). Testing at the end of this period could be considered to increase certainty.