Ohio Nursing Homes To Allow Visits As COVID Cases Fall!

Patch.com, By Chris Mosby, Posted March 4th 2021

Compassionate care visits are allowed at all nursing homes throughout the state.

As COVID-19 cases fall statewide, more nursing homes in Ohio can allow family and friends to visit patients.

Ohio officials have been vaccinating patients and staff at long-term care facilities for more than a month. The strategy has led to decreasing numbers of cases in nursing homes and similar facilities. Last week, there were 343 new COVID-19 cases in nursing homes. That’s down from the state’s peak of 2,832 cases in one week in December.

“Our efforts to protect Ohio’s most vulnerable population are working,” Gov. Mike DeWine said.

While cases are falling, DeWine wants nursing homes to allow more visits for patients. Many older Ohioans are suffering from isolation and abandonment, the governor said.

Nursing homes can allow visits if they meet the following criteria:

• No new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days;
• The facility is not currently conducting outbreak testing; and
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports the COVID-19 county positivity rate at less than 10 percent.

However, compassionate care visits are always allowed. In those situations, if a patient’s well-being is at risk, family or friends can visit the patient.

DeWine sent a letter to all nursing homes in Ohio reminding them to check their county’s positivity rate weekly. He also told them to allow compassionate care visits for ailing patients.

Nursing homes are required to list their visitation status. Families can check any facility’s status on the state’s coronavirus website.