Yes, COVID cases are diminishing and the CDC is beginning to relax masking requirements for the general public. There have been no changes to the CDC’s mask recommendations for healthcare settings therefore we will continue to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as well as the latest COVID-19 infection control guidance with relation to its impact on our residents and visitors. Therefore, masking requirements are still in place for the foreseeable future as we await updated guidance.
Throughout the pandemic, the responsibility has been on long-term care administrators to devise infection control protocol for visitors, vendors and others entering their facilities from the public sphere. The CMS currently advises that clinical care providers use community transmission rates to make infection-control decisions under CDC’s healthcare setting guidance.
Under CMS visitation guidelines, vaccination is not currently required to visit, though it is highly recommended. If you are in a post-infection or post-exposure stage, we request that you refrain from visiting for a minimum of 10 to 14 days. It is also important to refrain from visiting even if you have minor symptoms such as a runny nose or sore throat. According to the CDC, people exhibiting these symptoms are testing positive for COVID.
We encourage and recommend booster shots as a primary way to continue to safeguard against COVID-19 and its variants. We are encouraging our staff and residents to become boosted.
For information about vaccination rates at nursing homes, please refer to CMS’s Care Compare site through Medicare.gov. Learn about vaccines near you and the CDC’s fact sheet.
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (since the federal government issued reporting requirements
on May 8, 2020, through March 10, 2022):
Our Facility’s Resident Impact (Since March 30, 2020, through March 9, 2022)
0- Residents currently in our building with a confirmed active case of COVID 19
100- CONFIRMED: Residents with laboratory positive COVID-19
0 -SUSPECTED: Residents with new suspected COVID-19
105-Confirmed Staff Total: with a positive COVID-19
- Please note that test results are reported on our call-in line at 570-207-6711 which is updated daily when we have new positive results. Family members and all others impacted by the virus will be contacted directly and provided with results and updates.
As of March 10,, 2022, 95.9% of our residents have been fully vaccinated and 89% have received booster shots. Our staff is 100% vaccinated and 80% of those eligible have received a booster. Overall, our facility staff and residents are 98.5% fully vaccinated and 85.8% of those eligible have received a booster.
Our priority is the protection of our residents, staff and families at our facility. We appreciate that you entrust us with the care of your loved ones and thank you for your patience and cooperation. If you have any questions, we are always available for you.
We continue to enjoy JHEP “March Madness” and encourage you to watch the JHEP Facebook page for photos of the fun!!!
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Mary Rose Applegate, MBA, RD, NHA
Administrator
