Some Oklahoma Nursing Homes To Resume Visitation Soon

Governor Kevin Stitt announced some nursing homes and care facilities will be able to resume visitation starting Monday.

But visitors will see changes when they come by to see their relatives.

The new guidelines will allow some families to see their loved ones in care facilities and other social activities, but only if they meet certain requirements.

Governor Kevin Stitt sent out an amended executive order today that lays out the three-phased plan to reopen long-term care facilities.

Most of them are already on phase three if they haven't seen any COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days.

Phase 3 includes changes like allowing visitation by appointment only, communal dining with social distancing, requiring everyone to wear a mask and continued daily screening of staff and residents.

Facilities also need to have adequate Personal Protective Equipment, or PPE.

The county where the facility is located has to have seen a downward trend in cases over the past 2 weeks.

"Each community will have to look at county numbers, infection preventionist, their recent testing," said Kimberly Green.

Kimberly Green is the Chief Operating Officer with Diakonos Group--which manages 20 long-term care facilities in Oklahoma.

She said every facility will have a slightly different plan.

"This is not reopening to visitation like they had before," she said.

Ff anyone tests positive for COVID-19, the facilities have to start back over at Phase 1 which restricts visitation.

Phase 2 allows some non-essential personnel like barbers or beauticians tom come inside.

With some counties seeing an increase in COVID-19 this week, Green said people must check with their specific care facilities.

"You can't run up and give those hugs. These are phases, we will get to that, but we have to be patient," Green said.

For the full guidelines, click here.