State Health Commissioner Kristina Box is highlighting the importance of preventing the spread of infection in nursing homes. She spoke during a Wednesday update on the coronavirus.
Box says that nearly 15 percent of Indiana’s COVID-19 deaths have come from long-term care facilities or nursing homes.
She says the tight-knit nature of care facilities can be expected to bring more cases in days to come. Box issued an order requiring directors of long term care facilities, residential facilities, jails, prisions, and other congregate settings report known or suspected cases and deaths to local and state health departments within twenty four hours.
"This includes your employees and that’s very important,” she says.
Box says care facilities should keep residents and their families up to date on any positive cases or deaths that occur.
When a case or suspected case is reported in a nursing facility, the state health department sends a strike team in to help the facility implement strategies to prevent spread of the virus.
She says operations at long term care facilities have been significantly altered since the pandemic to prevent its spread.
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