Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
1035. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the self-isolation procedure for residents of nursing homes after returning from hospital even if they have tested negative for Covid-19 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21266/20]
View answerNursing home providers are ultimately responsible for admissions to their homes and to further assist nursing homes the Health Protection Surveillance Centre has developed substantial public health guidance. An extensive body of guidance and support tools are available on the HPSC website. Guidance on resident transfers is addressed in the “Interim Public Health, Infection Prevention & Control Guidelines on Admissions, Transfers to and Discharges from Residential Care facilities during the COVID-19 Cases Pandemic (Version v1 O 28/07/2020) and the Interim Public Health, Infection Prevention & Control Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of COVID-19 Cases and Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities V6.0 28/07/2020."
The guidance sets out the measures that should be adopted in relation to admissions to residential facilities. It notes that over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been significant learning about the role of testing for COVID-19 and its role in determining levels of asymptomatic infection and tracking spread of infection, especially in congregated settings, such as Residential Care Facilities. All transfers or new admissions should have a risk assessment, to ensure sufficient resources are available within the RCF to support social distancing and patient placement. In general residents transferred or directly admitted to a RCF should be accommodated in a single room (or room with no other residents) for 14 days after arrival and monitored for new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during that time.
The guidance, which is under constant review, is available on the Health Protection Surveillance Centre’s website.
