[ad_1]
Wake Forest, North Carolina – State health officials said Thursday that nursing homes in North Carolina may resume allowing visitors inside.
Visitors have generally been excluded from nursing homes since last March to limit the spread of the coronavirus to the very vulnerable population inside. The only exceptions have been when residents are near death so family members can see them one last time.
But the State Department of Health and Human Services said coronavirus infections in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities “are declining rapidly.”
North Carolina added about 4,000 nursing home and residential care facility cases each month last fall, but the number rose to nearly 9,000 in December and 10,000 in January.
The number has now returned to levels close to those seen last fall.
Officials said the drop is likely due to a decision to vaccinate staff and residents as soon as a vaccine becomes available.
According to the state, more than 205,000 vaccines have been administered to long-term care staff and residents since January.
After testing negative for the coronavirus, Paula and Ray Nickola were able to visit her mother at Cadence in Wake Forest on Thursday.
“You don’t know how special it is because Ray’s not a hugger,” Peggy Nickola said as her son and daughter-in-law put their arms around her.
Peggy Nickola said being without her family for the past year was “quite devastating”. But she said her daughter-in-law called her every morning to read Bible passages on the phone.
Ray Nickola said not being able to have his mother at home for Christmas was especially difficult. Like so many others during the pandemic, he must have wished his mother a Merry Christmas through plexiglass.
“I’m 62, and it’s the first time I’m not with her,” he said. “It was very unusual. It didn’t feel right.”
Peggy Nickola is now fully vaccinated and she can’t wait to spend next Christmas and more with her sweetheart those.
“WWhat I keep telling everyone is that if you have a family that cares about you, you are already ahead. My children have been extremely wonderful, ”she said.
Nursing homes should continue to monitor infection control measures for visitors, such as masks and distance from others. In addition, each establishment must have reported no new infections for 14 days before allowing visitors.
Mark Foreman, executive director of Cadence at Wake Forest, said no cases of the virus have been reported at the facility and he doesn’t expect that to change now that strangers are entering the facility. interior.
“There is always an opportunity [for infection], of course. But we’re not going to lower our standards in that direction, ”Foreman said.
“I know this has been a long and difficult year for residents and families, but these measures have saved lives and now allow us to safely resume indoor visits,” said DHHS secretary on Dr. Mandy Cohen, in a statement. “While we must continue infection prevention practices, this decrease is also a positive sign of the impact of vaccinations on our communities.”
Visitors should contact a specific facility for more information on rules and policies.
[ad_2]
Source link