September 20, 2023 1 MSDH COVID-19 Resources for Nursing

September 20, 2023 1

MSDH COVID-19 Resources for Nursing Homes and Long-term Care Facilities

Key Points

• Older adults living in congregate settings are at high risk of being affected by respiratory and other

pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2.

• A strong infection prevention and control (IPC) program is critical to protect both residents and

healthcare personnel (HCP).

• Even as nursing homes resume normal practices, they must sustain core IPC practices and remain

vigilant for SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents and HCP in order to prevent spread and

protect residents and HCP from severe infections, hospitalizations, and death.

• MSDH recommends long-term care facilities follow CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control

guidance documents for preparing and responding to SARS-COV-2 in long-term care settings.

• This document replaces the previous MSDH guidance, COVID-19 Prevention and Response

Guidelines for Long-Term Care Facilities and provides hyperlinks to resources for basic infection

prevention and control measures, outbreak response measures, and required reporting.

Infection Prevention and Control

Refer to CDC’s Infection Prevention and Control guidance (see link below) to prevent SARS-COV-2

entry and spread in all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered (including nursing homes and home

health).

• CDC Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the

COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-

recommendations.html

o Note: Recommendations from CDC’s previous guidance document, Interim Infection

Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing

Homes, can now be found in this single guidance document at the link above.

Additional resources for basic infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities:

• COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Enrollment, Vaccine Request, and Resources:

https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,71,975.html

• CMS visitation memos for nursing homes (QSO-20-39-NH Revised) and ICF-IID and Psychiatric

Residential Treatment Facilities (QSO-21-14-ICF/IID & PRTF Revised 06.03.2021)

• CDC SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing in Long Term Care Facilities guidance for interpreting point

of care (POC) antigen tests performed within the facility: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-

ncov/hcp/nursing-homes-antigen-testing.html

• MSDH COVID-19 Therapeutics Information:

https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420,694.html

Outbreak Response

MSDH defines an outbreak in a long-term care facility as a SARS-COV-2 infection confirmed in a

single resident or HCP/employee. An outbreak should be suspected when clusters of respiratory disease

(≥ 3 residents and/or staff) are identified. Notify the MSDH Office of Epidemiology of any confirmed or

suspected outbreak.

September 20, 2023 2

Refer to the resources listed below for infection prevention and control guidance when responding to a

SARS-COV-2 outbreak in nursing homes and other long-term care settings:

• The section entitled “Response to a Newly Identified SARS-CoV-2-infected HCP or Resident” of

the CDC Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the

COVID-19 Pandemic document.

• CDC Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to

SARS-CoV-2 for evaluation and management of HCP with higher-risk exposures or HCP infected

with SARS-COV-2.

• CMS visitation guidance for indoor visitation during an outbreak

o Nursing Home Visitation - COVID-19: QSO-20-39-NH Revised

o ICF-IID and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities: QSO-21-14-ICF/IID & PRTF

Revised 06.03.2021

• Source control and physical distancing guidance: CDC Infection Prevention and Control

Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Reporting

Reporting Rapid/Point of Care (POC) Test Results

• Individual SARS-CoV-2 test results (positive, negative, or inconclusive) from any testing

methodology are no longer reportable to MSDH. This includes point of care tests (e.g., rapid

antigen or rapid PCR) and laboratory based Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAAT) tests.

• Suspected and confirmed COVID-19 outbreaks are still required to be reported by telephone to

MSDH within 24 hours of first knowledge or suspicion.

• Information about COVID-19 reporting to MSDH can be found on MSDH’s website:

https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420,694.html#reportingCOVID-19

Outbreak Reporting of New Cases and Deaths

• Notify the MSDH COVID-19 Outbreak Team in your area or the MSDH Office of Epidemiology

(601-576-7725) of any identified COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 related death in a resident or

employee within the facility.

Additional CMS Reporting Requirements

• Facilities should refer to Licensure and Certification regarding all CMS requirements including

aggregate COVID-19 data reported weekly. COVID-19 data and updates from CMS can be found

here: https://www.cms.gov/nursing-homes/providers-partners/covid-19