City Considering Options That Would Allow Visitors Inside Nursing Homes

A city spokesperson told Pasadena Now that the city’s health department is looking at options that would people to visit patients in long term health care facilities.

“PPHD is considering ways to allow visitors to long-term care facilities, while minimizing COVID-19 risk to the extent possible,” said Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian. “Visitors introduce increased disease transmission risk, but there are benefits to social and family support.”

According to Derderian with the opening of more economic sectors, an increase in COVID-19 community transmission is expected.

Elderly people are at high risk to catch the virus, and visitors have been banned from the facilities which have been hit hard by the virus.

Last week, Golden Cross Health Center was closed and residents were evacuated from that facility. According to the city’s coronavirus dashboard, 72 residents and 32 staff members at the Golden Cross facility have contracted COVID-19.

Eight people connected to the facility have died from virus related illness.

At Brighton Care Center, 16 people have died and 77 residents and 51 staff members have been infected by the virus.

In total, 1,083 local residents had battled the virus, resulting in 86 deaths.

On Wednesday, local health officials reported 25 cases of the virus and one death. That fatality combined with a death on Tuesday marks the first deaths on consecutive days from the virus in more than a month.

At least 21 states across the country are reporting an increases in cases.

County health officials reported a record-high single-day number of coronavirus cases on Wednesday when they reported 2,129 new cases and 34 deaths.

Despite those numbers, county officials announced that visitation can resume at nursing facilities with some restrictions.

Family and friends can visit their loved ones at facilities that have not had any new COVID-19 infections for 28 days.

Pasadena has its own health department, and the city’s health director would have to write a separate order to allow visitors at local long term health care facilities.

“It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see relaxing across the board at all of the (skilled nursing facilities) given the fact that they do need to be 28 days out with no new cases,” said County Health Director Barbara Ferrer. “But visitors with fever or COVID-19 symptoms will not be permitted to enter into a facility. Visitors are going to need to practice distancing of at least six feet. Everyone will need to wear their face mask at all times and signs will be posted with additional rules at each of the facilities and shared with visitors.”

According to Ferrer those social distancing and face mask requirements are also important for all residents to remember as they move about in public and visit reopened businesses.

Ferrer also indicated there could be movement this week allowing nail salons to reopen.

“We are working very closely with the board (of supervisors) to assess the options on the reopening. We hope that we’ll be able to share more information … as early as tomorrow about where we continue and how we continue on our recovery journey.

“… There is an obligation on every business that’s open at this point to really adhere to the guidance and the protocols and directives that are out there about how to make sure that your facility offers as much safety as possible to both your workers, to your customers and to residents.”

Ferrer noted Monday that county inspectors had visited 2,000 restaurants over the weekend, and half of them were out of compliance with operating protocols.