Pa. Has Relaxed Guidelines for Easing COVID-19 Restrictions in Personal Care, Assisted Living

Updated guidelines from Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services (DHS) concern relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions for residents and staff at assisted living, personal care, and group communities, reports GoErie.com . The revised recommendations cover screening and surveillance testing, expanded visitation policies, and more detailed procedures for when current restrictions can be lifted. The new guidance includes a compassionate caregiver designation, which awards special visitor status to a family member or friend of a resident under specific circumstances. DHS spokeswoman Erin James said the agency considers most of its guidance as recommendations, not requirements, for communities — although DHS-licensed communities, like skilled nursing communities, must satisfy specific mandates in order to begin lifting restrictions. The guidance advises outside visitation until a community has reached the second of a three-step process for lifting restrictions, which occurs after it has been COVID-19-free for at least 28 days. Communities also are recommended to resume restrictions for at least two weeks if a staffer or resident tests positive for the virus. Unlike the state Department of Health's guidance for skilled nursing communities, DHS recommendations say DHS-licensed communities must allow family, friends, clergy, and others identified by a resident visitation during end-of-life situations. Meanwhile, visitor bans will stay in effect for most individuals — including volunteers, non-essential healthcare personnel, and non-essential personnel like hairdressers — until the community is COVID-19-free for at least 14 days.