Department of Health Updates Guidance at Long-Term Care Facilities

The Wyoming Department of Health has issued updated guidance to allow long-term care facilities to permit in-person visitation outdoors under specific guidelines. The new guidance requires visits to occur in a designated outdoor space, limits visitors to two persons at a time and requires screening of visitors for symptoms of respiratory illness.

A facility staff member trained in patient safety and infection control measures must remain with the resident at all times during the visit. Staff and residents must also wear surgical face masks and visitors are required to wear face coverings. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said that he understands how challenging the pandemic has been for Wyoming’s aging population, as isolation can be debilitating for our seniors.

State Health Officer Dr. Alexia Harrist said that all along, they have been focused on protecting the residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, because they are our most vulnerable citizens, and that outbreaks in facilities can be difficult to manage and can be devastating.

Dr. Harrist said that routine testing of staff and residents at Wyoming long-term care facilities is continuing, with a goal of eventually testing 100 percent of all staff and residents for COVID-19.