Practical Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Coronavirus Infection in Long Term Care Facilities
April 2020
Long-term care facilities (LTCFs), such as nursing homes and rehabilitative centres, are facilities that care for people who are advanced of age or who suffers from physical or mental disabilities.
The people living in LTCF are vulnerable populations who are at a higher risk for infection with the SARSCoV-2 virus (COVID-19) due to living in close proximity to others, and for adverse outcomes due to their age and co-morbidities. Thus, LTCFs must take special precautions to protect their residents and employees.
It is important to note that the route of transmission is via respiratory droplets produced when sneezing, coughing, shouting and talking landing on the hands of, and on environmental surfaces surrounding, the infected person (up to a distance of 1-2 metres), which are then transferred by the contact route via contaminated hands to a person’s face and mucous membranes. No airborne transmission has been recorded, except through aerosol generating procedures.
This guideline outlines key activities for the prevention of spread of COVID-19, the response to any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in a LTCF and to manage care workers and residents who have been exposed to the virus.
The document is divided into two main parts:
- Part A provides recommendations towards Prevention Strategies for COVID-19 in a LTCF
- Part B provides recommendations on what to do if residents and/or staff members are exposed/and or diagnosed with COVID-19 in a LTCF.
This circular has been published by the Western Cape Department of Health and Department of Social Development. EMGuidance confirms that it is not the owner of the information provided, nor does it intend to present it as such.