CMS opens visitation to nursing homes after year of isolation
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 11, 2021
“Facilities should allow responsible indoor visitation at all times” — no matter the vaccination status of resident or visitor, the agency now says. Its action follows the remarkable, apparent...
AMDA urges safe, thoughtful approach in new reopening guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 02, 2021
A return to ‘normal,’ will not be immediate, says Executive Director Christopher Laxton in announcing new, proposed visitation guidelines.
Most COVID-19 antibody treatments given in assisted living, analysts find
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 22, 2021
Fully 67% of monoclonal antibody treatments have been administered in assisted living communities. Health officials would like to encourage greater use.
Factor in chills, lesser-known symptoms to better detect COVID-19, study shows
By
Alicia Lasek
Feb 16, 2021
Factoring four overlooked COVID-19 symptoms into testing efforts significantly improves detection, investigators say.
GAO: Nursing homes unlikely to use point-of-care COVID tests in states that question accuracy
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 29, 2021
A disconnect between federal and state or local policies has a direct effect on POC antigen test use in these settings, according to a comprehensive report released Thursday by the U.S. Government Accountability...
New report details allergic reactions to early Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccinations
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 25, 2021
Among 21 patients who experienced anaphylaxis in the first days of the rollout, 18 had onset within 30 minutes. Common signs of allergic reaction were hives (urticaria); rapid edema, or swelling beneath...
Scientists predict new virus strain will worsen U.S. infection spike
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 15, 2021
Scientists are raising concerns that new genetic strains of SARS-CoV-2 will spark renewed outbreaks in the United States at a time when cases are already spiking.
Antibiotics overused in COVID-19 patients, analysis finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 07, 2021
Fully three quarters of COVID-19 patients receive antibiotics, although fewer than 10% have a bacterial infection, according to a new research review.
Feds pledge 30 million more coronavirus tests for 2021
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 18, 2020
The additional allotment will allow officials to keep providing Abbott BinaxNow tests to skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other vulnerable groups through at least March, said...
FDA approves first fully at-home COVID-19 test
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 17, 2020
Results are available in about 20 minutes via a mobile phone app, and the test is more than 90% accurate in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, the agency announced Tuesday.