Study confirms need to isolate asymptomatic COVID-19 staff, residents
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 10, 2020
Symptomatic and asymptomatic adults carry a similar amount of the virus, a study of infected patients has found. What’s more, 81% of the asymptomatic participants had no outward signs of disease for...
An electric cooker can sanitize N95 masks, preserve filtration and fit, investigators find
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 10, 2020
A rice cooker or an Instant Pot effectively decontaminates N95 respirators without compromising fit and function, researchers say. They demonstrate the method in a YouTube video.
Juniper CEO: Restoring ‘new normal’ in senior living is about COVID lessons learned
By
Kimberly Bonvissuto
Aug 03, 2020
Juniper Communities created an early COVID-19 battle plan using cohorting and universal testing. Today the majority of its communities are testing 100% negative for the virus, says founder and CEO Lynne...
CMS: Pandemic relief to nursing homes tied to infection control training, weekly testing
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 24, 2020
To qualify for CARES Act funds, eldercare facilities must take part in CMS’s online COVID-19 training program. The agency also expects to require weekly staff testing in certain cases.
The COVID-19 mitigation strategies of social distancing, face coverings and handwashing not only will help to curb the spread of the coronavirus, they will help to lessen the severity of the upcoming flu...
CDC director talks to McKnight’s about flu season, COVID-19 mitigation and nursing home data
By
Liza Berger
Jul 17, 2020
Senior Editor Liza Berger spoke with Robert Redfield, M.D., about some of the most pressing issues in the eldercare industry.
Nursing facilities in ‘hot spots’ to receive first batch of COVID-19 test equipment
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 16, 2020
About 2,000 nursing homes in regions where COVID-19 case counts are high will be the first to receive on-site diagnostic testing equipment from the federal government.
Flu season may be ‘devastating,’ officials warn
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2020
“The real risk is that we’re going to have two circulating respiratory pathogens at the same time,” says CDC director Robert Redfield, M.D.
Standardize N95 respirators for all inpatient COVID-19 encounters, conclude analysts
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 01, 2020
N95 respirators should be required for all workers caring for COVID-19 inpatients, not only those performing aerosol-generating procedures, write the authors of a new data review.
CDC revises COVID-19 testing guidelines for nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 16, 2020
The agency has updated and consolidated the guidelines, including a recommendation that individuals not be tested more than once in 24 hours.