Coronavirus in Kentucky: Nursing home visitors limited to loved ones of the dying
Kentucky nursing homes should ban all visitors except the loved ones of patients receiving end-of-life care in an effort to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Tuesday.
“I understand there are Kentuckians out there who worry they might not be able to see their loved one,” Beshear said. “I get that. But right now, we are making sure that we are protecting the life, health and safety of individuals in those facilities.”
The decision came several hours before Beshear announced two new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Harrison County, bringing the state’s total to eight. The newest cases involve a 54-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.
There are now five cases in Harrison County and they are all linked, Beshear said. The other cases are in Fayette and Jefferson counties.
Beshear described his action Tuesday morning as “strong guidance” for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and long-term care facilities, but made clear further action would be taken if it is not followed.
“We expect facilities to follow it,” he said during a 9 a.m. Capitol news conference, surrounded by leaders of the state’s various medical associations. “It is absolutely necessary at this point.”
The state posted specifics on its COVID-19 website Tuesday that said long-term care facilities should screen staff for symptoms of respiratory infection, international travel to restricted countries and exposure to someone with COVID-19.
All visitors should be turned away except for the “loved ones” of someone in “end-of-life care.” The guidance does not define those terms.
For visitors who meet that criteria, the state recommends that facilities take their temperature at the front desk. Those with a reading of 100.1 degrees or higher would be denied entrance and must speak with their loved one via phone.
If their temperature is below 100, visitors should be escorted to and from the room of the patient and not be allowed in any other parts of the facility without an escort.
Of the coronavirus-related deaths in the United States, many have been tied to a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, according to the New York Times. The situation highlights concern about the effect of the disease on medically vulnerable people in long-term care.
“If you look at Seattle, you see what happens if we don’t take these steps to restrict visitation,” he said.
Beshear said he hopes people understand that the restriction is necessary to protect those most likely to have life-threatening complications from the disease.
“I hope people will stop and think, given that they could have this and not be showing symptoms, what it would mean if they were the individual, because of wanting that visit, that spread the coronavirus throughout one of these facilities,” Beshear said.
Betsy Johnson, president of the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities, said her association supports Beshear’s directive.
“These are extreme measures, but I think they’re appropriate. We do not want an outbreak of this virus in any long-term care facility in Kentucky,” she said Tuesday afternoon.
The association represents 14 assisted living communities, 34 personal care homes, and roughly 80 percent of the 300 licensed skilled nursing facilities across the state, Johnson said, and so far, “I have not heard from any one of my members telling me they aren’t going to follow this guidance.”
The Democratic governor said he understands the concerns this may cause for loved ones of nursing home patients.
“We are working to protect the lives of those same loved ones,” he said.
He urged those with questions about visitation at nursing homes and long-term care facilities to call the inspector general of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services at 502-564-2888.
Beshear also said the eight patients in Kentucky with confirmed COVID-19 range in age from 27 to 69.
The five cases in Harrison County are a 27-year-old woman, a a 67-year-old-woman, a 68-year-old man, a 54-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man.
UK HealthCare officials in Lexington would not confirm Tuesday morning in a news conference which of the first three Harrison County patients was being treated at UK Chandler Hospital. They did say the patient is now in “fair” condition, after being admitted late last week in “critical” condition.
The two cases in Fayette County include a 49-year-old man and a 46-year-old man. The lone confirmed case in Jefferson County is a 69-year-old man.
All eight are in isolation and are receiving care, he said, though some are being isolated in their homes. He provided no further information about the cases.
Beshear also issued an executive order that allows pharmacists to refill prescriptions up to 30 days. He said the step is necessary to help those in isolation or who have been urged to stay at home.
The CDC recommends that individuals over the age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions avoid crowds, stay home as much as possible and stock up on essential medicines and other supplies.
Beshear’s order also allows for the creation of temporary pharmacies if needed, and allows pharmacies to dispense any drugs that are part of any future treatment regiment for novel coronavirus recommended by the Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Everybody should stay calm, should understand there’s going to be some disruption to their daily lives, but we’ve got to be our brother and sister’s keeper, which means we don’t just protect ourselves from getting this, we do what’s necessary to keep us from spreading it to other folks,” Beshear said.
Part of that necessity may result in restricting events across Kentucky guaranteed to bring large crowds of people together, though most health officials agree it’s too early to make that call.
When asked whether Lexington should consider canceling upcoming events like the Sweet 16 basketball tournaments, UK’s Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control Dr. Derek Forster said local health officials in Lexington should have a “pretty low threshold” when it comes to those choices, which should always be made “in the best interest of the public.”
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 10:00 AM.
