BISMARCK, ND (KFGO)- North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum unveiled plans Friday afternoon that would allow for gradual easing into visitations at North Dakota’s long-term care facilities.
Multiple factors will be used when determining entrance for gating criteria in the phased approach to reopening skilled nursing, basic care and assisted living facilities across the state. The plan, developed by the North Dakota Department of Human Services, is being studied by a task force led by Christopher Larson, a resident at Luther Memorial Home in Mayville.
“While our work is far from complete, this first step is key in the end goal of reuniting our residents and families in whole at the end of this pandemic,” Larson said in a statement“Our committee is geared towards perfecting these guidelines. It is our hope to still have the final policy developed by our June 25 internal deadline. It is with your support here today that we move even closer to that June 25th deadline.”
The factors used include county-wide case status, facility-wide case status, adequate staffing, access to adequate testing, adequate ability to screen, universal source control, access to adequate personal protective equipment and local hospital capacity.
There will be three phases to reopening—phase one being the moderate risk phase and phase three being the “new normal”.
Initially, all facilities will have to undergo a minimum of two rounds of testing among both residents and staff with a 90% compliance rate in order to meet gating criteria for entrance into the three reopening phases.
As of Friday afternoon, all facilities across North Dakota have gone through at least one round of testing.
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