Dubuque Times

Long-term health facilities and nursing homes in Iowa are taking precautions when handling COVID-19.

Elderly populations are more susceptible to the disease, as are people with pre-existing conditions. Ten outbreaks have been identified in facilities since Saturday. An outbreak is defined as three or more cases. Half of the COVID-19 deaths in Iowa are due to infections in nursing homes.

All nursing homes in the area are taking added precautions with screening procedures. Visitors have been waiting more than a month to have face-to-face visits with nursing home residents.

Jason Birdie is the director of marketing for Care Initiatives, the nonprofit that owns Dubuque Specialty Care.

“We’re paying close attention to all of our residents and making sure they don’t show any signs or symptoms,” Birdie told Telegraph Herald.

He anticipates a rise in cases in nursing homes, and said that leaders should be prepared. 

“(Administrators) are simply following those guidelines for reusing what is turning out to be in short supply, things like gowns and certain types of masks,” Birdie said, according to Telegraph Herald.

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Health Facilities Division is normally in charge of nursing home inspections.

However, during the COVID-19 crisis, the U.S. Centers for Medicaid/Medicare (CMS) has halted inspections. Also, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all hospitals and nursing homes to use intensive screening practices for employees, such as checking for symptoms like fever, sore throat and respiratory symptoms.

Another measure is that no one can be discharged due to non payment during the crisis.

A challenge many facilities are facing is lack of personal protective equipment.

Reynolds passed measures that went into detail about who should wear what type of equipment. This includes gear, masks, gloves and robes.

It also gave procedures on how to make equipment last longer, as well as potentially safe ways to-re use certain supplies.