An Illinois nursing home is being investigated following an outbreak in which more than 90 people became infected and 12 died.
In response to the spread of the virus, Stearns Nursing and Rehab in Madison County claims it can let employees who have COVID-19 continue to work on the premises, reported Fox 2.
A staff member at the nursing home told the news outlet that when she tested positive for the virus she was told she could continue working. While wanting to remain anonymous, the employee disclosed she did not return to work while infected.
When contacted by the TV station, a representative for Stearns Nursing pointed to the CDC’s guidelines entitled “Strategies to Mitigate Healthcare Personnel Staffing Shortages.”
Should a staffing crisis occur, the guidelines advise health care providers (HCP) with “suspected or confirmed COVID-19,” who are well enough to work, be kept apart from others.
If no other staff is available during the crisis, the guidelines allow for infected workers to care for “suspected or confirmed” infected patients.
“As a last resort, allow HCP with confirmed COVID-19 to provide direct care for patients without suspected or confirmed COVID-19,” the CDC guidelines said. In other words, it would allow a healthcare worker with coronavirus to look after a COVID negative patient.
The Illinois Department of Health acknowledged the CDC’s guidelines, but maintains a more stringent policy.
“While the CDC allows a positive employee who is asymptomatic to continue working if there is a staffing shortage, IDPH discourages it,” the Department of Health told the outlet.
The IDPH would allow an asymptomatic COVID positive employee to work only if all other staffing options were exhausted. In addition, the infected employee would only be allowed to cohort with “COVID-19 recovered or positive residents, and recovered or other asymptomatic positive staff.”
Stearns Nursing and Rehab would not disclose how many of the more than 90 positive cases involved members of their staff.
Full Article & Source:
Nursing Home Claims It’s Allowed to Have COVID Positive Employees Working Amid Staffing Shortage
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