Long-Term Care Facilities

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high-risk persons should not allow visitors. These establishments include nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, and correctional facilities unless it is an end-of-life visit.

Executive Order 131 sets additional public health and safety requirements for nursing homes and encourages other long-term care facilities to follow the same guidance.

Some of the directives include:

• Canceling communal activities, including group meals
• Taking the temperature of employees and essential personnel when they enter the facility
• Requiring specific personal protective equipment in the facility
• Requiring close monitoring of residents for COVID-19 health indicators like body temperature

Read the FAQs for additional information about this order.

Facilities are encouraged to implement social distancing measures and perform temperature and respiratory symptom screening of residents and staff. In addition, long-term care facilities should:

• Practice good hand hygiene tips and other common-sense precautions
• Review policies and procedures for infection prevention and mitigation, and make sure all employees follow these steps.
• Assure strict adherence to infection prevention practices.
• Prevent the introduction of respiratory illnesses into their facilities.
• Continue to work closely with your local health department, NCDHHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and follow their guidance.

All long-term care facilities in the state will receive personal protective equipment (PPE) packs of needed supplies, and facilities will receive a limited increased rate for some Medicaid services to support infection prevention and management.

Requesting Personal Protective Equipment