The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today that they have changed the metrics used to determine personal and community COVID-19 prevention measures based on community spread. It is important to note that this change does not apply in health care settings because the consequences of spread and risk of triggering outbreaks is greater.
Core practices of infection prevention and control are outlined in this
CMS Visitation Memo. Visitors entering nursing homes should continue to be screened, wear face coverings or masks, and follow physical distancing. Health care personnel should continue to follow infection prevention and control programs currently in place by the facility which reflect CMS requirements and CDC recommendations for
health care settings.
The CDC continues to recommend everyone get vaccinated with a booster as this is the leading public health prevention strategy to prevent severe disease and deaths from COVID-19. People who are up to date on vaccines (e.g. have receive a booster) have a much lower risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared to those who are unvaccinated or fully vaccinated.