Reminders for Nursing Home Visitor Testing

All visitors are required to follow the core principles of infection control.

Facilities must review and/or revise their current policies, procedures and record-keeping practices on visitation and testing to follow NYSDOH updated guidance on SARS-CoV-2 and visitation. Records of SARS-CoV-2 test results for visitors must be made available, upon request to the local health department (LHD) and/or the New York State Department of Health.

A nursing home could provide a visitor with an Over the Counter (OTC) COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test if he/she does not have other valid proof of a negative test conducted in the required timeframe. The visitor should test him/herself and take a picture of the results to demonstrate a negative test to the facility. The reporting of visitor self-testing results will be the responsibility of the visitor if test results are positive. The facility will not need to report visitors self-test results to either ECLRS or to HERDS.

Visitors must have received a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result:

• one day prior to visitation for antigen tests
• two days prior to visitation for NAAT (e.g. PCR) tests

For visitors who visit for multiple days, including a visitor who comes every day, proof of negative testing is required as often as feasible, at a minimum of every third day (for example: minimum testing is required on day one, day 4, day 7, and so on).

NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:

Jackie Pappalardi, RN, BSN
Executive Director
518-462-4800 x16