FLORIDA LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES

The State of Florida will allow residents of long-term care facilities to leave those facilities to celebrate Thanksgiving. While residents will be screened prior to returning to their facility, testing will not be required. The Federal Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recommended against residents leaving for the holidays. They are also considering advising member facilities to quarantine residents for 144 days who leave overnight. Most nursing homes in Florida are using antigen rapid tests, which are effective in diagnosing coronavirus when someone is showing symptoms or just before they begin to show symptoms, but is less reliable for those who were recently infected or those who are infectious but not showing symptoms.