Buffalo, NY (WBEN) - As the number of COVID19 cases decrease in New York's nursing homes, could it be time for a return to visits? One doctor says under the right conditions, that could happen.
State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said Wednesday that infection rates had fallen to the point where less rigorous testing was acceptable. Now, nursing homes in some parts of New York are allowed to test staff once a week as opposed to twice.
Dr. Bruce Troen of the Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo says provisionally, visits to see loved ones could happen.
"Any approach still has to take into account effective measures for protecting loved ones for when you plan on visiting them," says Troen. "If a nursing home has not had any COVID cases in the past 14 days, and if the patient is able to meet with loved ones, outdoors, and in a setting where everyone can wear a mask, wash hands and maintain social distancing, then I think there's a great possibility that can happen." He says it's still risky for people to come inside, so meeting outside could be a reasonable compromise.
Troen says diligence in monitoring is still needed. "Monitor the residents and the staff as much as twice a week," recommends Troen.