Updated CDC COVID-19 Recommendations

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its “source control” (i.e., face mask) recommendations for healthcare facilities (including assisted living facilities).  A summary of the recent changes include:

• Updated to note that vaccination status is no longer used to inform source control, screening testing, or post-exposure recommendations
• Updated circumstances when use of source control is recommended
• Updated circumstances when universal use of personal protective equipment should be considered
• Updated recommendations for testing frequency to detect potential for variants with shorter incubation periods and to address the risk for false negative antigen tests in people without symptoms.
• Clarified that screening testing of asymptomatic healthcare personnel, including those in nursing homes, is at the discretion of the healthcare facility
• Updated to note that, in general, asymptomatic patients no longer require empiric use of Transmission-Based Precautions following close contact with someone with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Archived the Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Spread in Nursing Homes and special considerations for nursing homes not otherwise covered in Sections 1 and 2 were added to Section 3: Setting-specific considerations
  • Updated screening testing recommendations for nursing home admissions
• Clarified the types of long-term care settings for whom the healthcare infection prevention and control recommendations apply

For purposes of facemasks, when COVID-19 Community Transmission levels are high, facemasks (and source control) are recommended.  When Community Transmission levels are not high, assisted living facilities could choose not to require universal source control (facemasks).