New regulations covering visiting to Nursing homes have come into effect today – they cover Infection Prevention and Control for long-term residential care facilities.
Public health advice remains that full access to visiting should be facilitated, while continuing to recognise the need to remain cautious due to the evolving risks associated with COVID-19.
Full access to visiting should be facilitated to the greatest degree practical for all residents.
Access to visiting may be very limited for a period of time in the early stages of dealing with an outbreak, but a total withdrawal of access is not appropriate.
A nursing home should have a policy on visiting and this information should be easily accessible.
Everyone who accesses a nursing home must adhere to directions on essential infection prevention and control practices, and anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 or other communicable infectious diseases should not visit.
