After the CDC updated its guidance for respiratory viruses in community settings, DSS issued a memo on March 7, 2024, with recommendations for Virginia assisted living facilities (ALFs), which differentiates recommendations for ALFs that directly provide healthcare-related services or not and offers infection prevention and control reminders.

• The memo also includes information for adult day care centers (ADCCs).

DSS recommendations for ALFs that directly provide healthcare-related services or whose residents receive contracted healthcare services have not changed:

• Examples of healthcare services include hospice care, physical therapy, wound care, urinary catheter care, intravenous injections, and any other procedures requiring licensed healthcare personnel.
• Continue to follow CDC guidance for healthcare settings for return-to-work criteria, mask guidance, testing, and additional prevention and mitigation steps.

Recommendations for ALFs that do not provide any type of healthcare-related service and provide only non-skilled personal care (e.g., bathing, dressing) similar to that provided by family members in the home have been updated:

•  Follow CDC respiratory virus guidance for community settings, which includes guidance on masks, physical distancing, and testing.

Additional Infection Prevention and Control Reminders

 The designated staff person who serves as the point of contact for the infection control program should perform surveillance for respiratory illnesses as they occur and determine the appropriate infection prevention and control measures to implement. Increase surveillance during respiratory virus season (typically October-April), or anytime levels of illness are increased.

• ALFs and ADCCs should follow their infection control program (22VAC40-73-100 & 22VAC40-61- 290), which:
  • Must be based on CDC guidelines.
  • Must include procedures to implement infection prevention measures and use of personal protective equipment.

• If there is an outbreak, the facility must follow health department recommendations (22VAC40-73- 100-F), which could include recommendations for masking, use of transmission-based precautions, and return to work guidelines for staff.

Questions? Facilities may contact VDSS’s Infection Prevention and Control Team at ipcteam@dss.virginia.gov for any questions regarding strategies to prevent or control transmission of respiratory illnesses or any other communicable disease.

As a reminder, the CDC recommendations do not apply to healthcare settings, including nursing homes. Read this article for more information.