The Health Department works closely with the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living and long-term care facilities to help them prepare for cases of COVID-19. Other types of group living settings, also called congregate care settings, can follow strategies to detect and prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like the new coronavirus.
WHAT WE ARE DOING
Outreach
The Health Department has contacted all long-term care facilities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and senior housing facilities proactively to review strategies to prevent COVID-19 infection and develop plans to respond immediately if an infection is identified. We complete an in-depth assessment by phone and provide guidance about personal protective equipment and other infection prevention and control recommendations. We continue to stay in touch for any technical assistance needs and additional questions.
Rapid Response
If a case of COVID-19 is associated with a long term care facility, an epidemiology team is quickly activated. They contact the facility to provide recommendations and infection control support. The team begins contact tracing to determine the source of the infection and how it may be spreading. They ask questions and collect information to help identify anyone the patient had close contact with. The team communicates with close contacts to ensure isolation and quarantine guidelines are being followed, which will differ depending on the type of setting.
Active Outbreaks in Long Term Care Facilities - December 17, 2020
The number of cases is current as of the date above. This information will be updated on Tuesdays and Fridays.
| Facility name | covid-19 cases |
|---|---|
| Rutland Health & Rehab | 67 |
| Four Seasons Care Home | 41 |
| Berlin Health & Rehab | 34 |
| Valley Vista (Bradford) | 8 |
| Residence at Quarry Hill | 12 |
| St. Albans Healthcare & Rehab Center | 76 |
| Elderwood at Burlington | 123 |
| Our Lady of Providence Residential Care Community | 38 |
| Craftsbury Community Care Center | 8 |
| Converse Home Assisted Living | 12 |
| Cathedral Square | 6 |
| All Active | 425 |
Vermont will participate in the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-term Care (LTC) Program coordinated by CDC. Vermont's Pharmacy Partners are CVS, Walgreens, and HealthDirect/Kinney Drugs. These pharmacies will provide on-site vaccination clinics for residents and staff of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. More information on the Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine can be found in the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The CDC has defined LTCF’s as skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care residential communities, residential care communities/adult family homes, including HUD 202 low-income senior housing, intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities, or state-run veterans' homes. Enrollment with this program is closed.
COVID-19 vaccination will begin at skilled nursing facilities on December 21. Vaccination for all other LTCFs enrolled in the federal program is scheduled to begin mid to late January, but is dependent on vaccine allocations.
The pharmacy will:
- Schedule and coordinate on-site clinics directly with each facility. Pharmacies will likely take schedule three clinics to administer both vaccine doses and vaccinate new residents and staff.
- Order vaccines and associated supplies (e.g., syringes, needles, personal protective equipment).
- Ensure cold chain management for vaccine.
- Provide on-site administration of vaccine.
- Adhere to all applicable CMS requirements for COVID-19 testing for LTCF staff.
These clinics are free to both staff and residents. Pharmacy partners may ask for insurance information to seek reimbursement for the administration of the vaccine, but if someone is uninsured vaccine will still be supplied at no charge.
After the initial phase of vaccinations, the facility can choose to continue working with the pharmacy that provided its on-site clinics or work with a pharmacy provider of its choice. Facilities that are ineligible for this program, or that missed the window for enrollment, are encouraged to work with existing or local pharmacies to arrange on-site clinics if desired.
If you are an enrolled facility and have questions about these clinics, please reach out to your pharmacy partner.
CVS
HealthDirect/Kinney
- E-mail: DavidSimpson@hdrxservices.com
Walgreens
- E-mail: immunizeltc@walgreens.com
Guidance
Facilities may offer visitation with residents. Check with the facility before planning a visit. Visitors should be screened before entry. Visitors' movements and interactions with people in the facility should be limited. Medically necessary personnel and visitors for residents receiving end-of-life care are allowed inside.
The Health Department recommends that all health care personnel in long-term care facilities and other congregate care living settings where health care is provided wear face masks, regardless of the presence of COVID-19 in the facility.
Residents and staff of congregate care settings and new admissions to nursing homes, assisted living residences, and residential care homes must complete the full 14-day quarantine period. Testing out of quarantine after day 7 is not an option unless alternate guidance is provided by the Health Department.
The CDC recommends to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities are the same strategies these facilities use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.
For more information on antigen testing see the following resources:
Health Alert Network documents from the Vermont Department of Health
Health Update, October 1, 2020
Health Update, September 2, 2020
Health Update, December 7, 2020
Guidance from the Vermont Department of Health
NEW: BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Guidance
NEW: BinaxNOW Antigen Testing Checklist
Guidance and resources from device manufacturers
BD Veritor™ Plus System for rapid COVID-19 testing (link is external)
Quidel Sofia SARS Antigen FIA (COVID-19) testing (link is external)
Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag card
See Health Alerts from the Vermont Department of Health
Long-Term Care Facilities
- Long-Term Care Facility: Response Checklist
- Guidance for Operations During COVID-19 Health Emergency (link is external)
- Considerations for Residents Returning to Long-term Care FacilitiesNEW(link is external)
- Writing a COVID-19 Outbreak Preparedness and Response Plan for a Long term Care Facility
- Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) information for Long-Term Care Facilities (link is external)
- Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (CDC)
- Line List for Structured Care Facilities (long term care, assisted living, or other structured care settings)
Other Congregate or Group Living Facilities
- Health Guidance for Adult Day Centers (link is external)
- Shelter Cleaning and Disinfection
- Homeless Shelters or Meal Provision Sites: Congregate Dining and Meal Program Guidance
- Preparing for COVID-19 in Mental Health Residential Settings
- Guidance for Managers and Owners: Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Senior Living Communities
- Guidance for Managers and Owners: Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in Apartment Complexes
- Guidance for Retirement Communities and Independent Living (link is external) (CDC)
Keep Germs from Spreading
Social Distancing (smaller version)
Social Distancing (larger version)
Proper Handwashing
COVID-19 "Stop the Spread of Germs" Poster (link is external) (CDC)