HARTFORD, Conn. — Visitors to nursing homes in Connecticut must soon show proof they’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19 or they’ve recently tested negative in order to enter the long-term care facilities.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order on Wednesday that imposes the new requirement, effective Saturday, Jan. 22.
Visitors must provide proof they’re fully vaccinated and, if eligible, have received a COVID-19 vaccine booster. If not, they must provide proof of a negative test.
“We know that some of the people who are most vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19 include those who live in nursing homes, which is why we need to be doing everything we can to protect them from this virus,” Gov. Lamont said in a news release. “This is one more precaution we can implement at these facilities to keep them safe.”
If that's not possible, visitors can take a rapid antigen test at the nursing home. The Department of Public Health plans to distribute 50,000 tests, beginning Friday, to all nursing homes for visitors.
“We need to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the omicron variant in our Connecticut nursing facilities,” Matthew Barrett, president/CEO of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities, said.
“These are aggressive timeframes, frankly very challenging timeframes due to staffing shortages in our sector, but we’re going to be making a good faith effort to try to implement these requirements. We think they’ll make a difference,” Barrett said.
Mairead Painter, the state’s Long Term Care Ombudsman said this is a step toward making sure residents can both have access to visitors and can stay safe.
“We saw during the pandemic how not having access really impacted them and that was the one thing we heard from them time and time again,” Painter said.
Rhode Island implemented a similar policy earlier this month.
The executive order here in Connecticut will stay in effect through Feb, 15, when the Governor’s emergency powers expire.
Elisha Machado is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at emachado@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.