Ohio Nursing Homes To Expand Visitation

COLUMBUS, OH — Assisted living and nursing home facilities will be allowed to expand visitation between patients and visitors, Gov. Mike DeWine announced.

Visitation at nursing homes and assisted living facilities must be permitted whenever safety protocols can be met, DeWine said. Previously, visitation was permitted but not required.

Here's what else is changing:

• Visits must last a minimum of 30 minutes. Previously, 30 minutes was the maximum time allotted for visits.
• Vaccinated residents may touch their visitors, as long as they're both wearing masks.
• Visits may occur in a resident's private room, as opposed to a separate visitation area.

Certain requirements will remain in place, including: visitors must schedule appointments in advance, visitors must be screened for COVID-19 at the door, and visitors and patients must wear masks during visits.

The new health order will also update COVID-19 testing requirements. Vaccinated staff must now be tested once per week, while unvaccinated staff must be tested twice per week.

"We must continue regularly testing for the virus," DeWine said. "It’s just good science, and it will help us identify cases early and prevent the spread. Further, if COVID is controlled, that means less disruption to visitation."

Visitation requirements can be altered if there is a COVID-19 outbreak at a facility, but those situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis, DeWine said.