Updates as of March 29, 2021

• Two prior guidance documents, “Responding to COVID-19 in Nursing Homes” and “Performing Facility-wide SARS-CoV-2 Testing in Nursing Homes” were merged with this guidance.
• The criteria for health department notification was updated to be consistent with Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologist (CSTE) guidance for reporting.
• Information on the importance of vaccinating residents and healthcare personnel (HCP) was added along with links to vaccination resources.
• Visitation and physical distancing measures were updated.
• Added  proper use and handling of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Added  universal PPE use to align with the interim infection prevention and control guidance for HCP.
• Added considerations for situations when it might be appropriate to keep the room door open for a resident with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• A description was included about when it may be appropriate for a resident with a suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection to “shelter-in-place.”
• Added management of residents who had close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection which includes a description of quarantine recommendations including resident placement, recommended PPE, and duration of quarantine.
• Added addressing circumstances when quarantine is recommended for residents who leave the facility.
• Added responding to a newly identified SARS-CoV-2-infected HCP or resident.
• Added addressing quarantine and work exclusion considerations for asymptomatic residents and HCP who are within 90 days of resolved infection.