Protecting the Most Vulnerable, Governor Lamont Issues Order for Visitors to Nursing Homes

For residents of the Nathaniel Witherell, seeing family members and friends is an important part of staying healthy. With the advent of Covid-19, we’ve encouraged visitation, by adhering to the strictest protocols from CMS and the State of Connecticut in order to protect our vulnerable residents.

On January 19, 2022, Governor Lamont issued Executive Order #14F directing all nursing homesin Connecticut to require visitors to either show proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have recently tested negative for the virus in order to enter the facilities. Please click on the Executive Order #14F link for more details.

“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,” Governor Lamont said. “This is one more precaution we can implement at these facilities to keep them safe.”

The order requires nursing homes to deny entrance to any visitor that tests positive for COVID-19 or who refuses to take a rapid antigen test. The order further provides, according to guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, that a nursing home cannot deny entrance to any visitor who is willing to take a rapid antigen test and who receives negative result.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health plans on distributing 50,000 rapid antigen tests to all nursing homes. These are to be used exclusively to facilitate safe visitation. Distribution will begin on Friday, January 21, 2022.