There are now three presumptive positive COVID-19 cases at a New Orleans nursing home, and The Louisiana Nursing Home Association is recommending its members restrict access to facilities to avoid further spread.
The statement from the LNHA asks the public not to visit a nursing home until further notice. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says that means even if you aren’t showing symptoms, you’re advised not to show up.
“We know people who are infected may not have symptoms and if they are not symptomatic and they are showing up in these nursing homes they could be transmitting it,” says Lopez.
A Seattle nursing home housing 108 patients have been on lockdown, and experts say it was the perfect environment for the virus’s spread. Lopez says we can’t let that happen here.
“There’s been already 15 deaths, 13 of them directly ascribable to COVID-19, and 180 employees there, 70 of them are showing symptoms of COVID-19,” says Lopez.
Emotional health is critical to elderly nursing home residents, and Lopez says, unfortunately, that’s likely to be impacted by these restrictions.
“That is a drawback, and hopefully there are other ways of being able to communicate with family members during this time, and for having interactions with individuals who are within the nursing home,” says Lopez.
Nursing homes in Louisiana will be expected to update their infection control procedures, and implement an extensive screening process for employees and visitors.
