VACCINE NEWS
Kansas COVID-19 Vaccination Overview
- 931,653 People Vaccinated
- 1,435,128 Total Doses Reported as Administered
– First Dose: 931,652
– Second Dose: 503,476 - 1,908,280 Total Doses Distributed
– State Distributed: 1,514,390
– Federal LTC Program: 393,890 - 32.0% of Kansans Vaccinated with One Dose
Source: https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data
STATE NEWS
Kansas COVID-19 Cluster Summary
As of April 7th, we are happy to announce there are no long-term care facilities with clusters.
Statewide Active COVID-19 Clusters
- Clusters: 30
- Cases: 2,155
- Hospitalizations: 47
Kansas COVID-19: Case Rates
- Cases: 303,767
- Total Case Rate Per 1,000: 104.27
- Daily Cases Diagnosed: 151
Long-Term Care Facilities with Active Cluster Case Information
- Clusters: 2
- Cases: 34
- Hospitalizations: 2
Source: https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas
Kansas State Board of Nursing Monthly Update
Please review this monthly update from KSBN which discusses licensing and important COVID-19 reminders.
FEDERAL NEWS
CDC Revises Travel Guidance
CDC has revised guidance on travel to state that fully-vaccinated individuals can now travel safely within the US and does not recommend quarantine or testing upon return. CDC notes that individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days are also not recommended to quarantine following travel. So what does this mean for long-term care staff and residents?
- Staff: Staff are permitted to follow the CDC guidance for travel, meaning they are not required to quarantine and would not be restricted from work upon return from travel.
- Residents: CDC travel guidance does not indicate long-term care residents must quarantine after travel, and infection prevention and control recommendations state that fully-vaccinated residents who are out of the long-term care setting longer than 24 hours are not recommended to quarantine upon return. So on both accounts, residents would not need to quarantine upon return.
There are a few exceptions, of course. First, staff and residents must continue to follow state guidance. If your state requires quarantine or testing after travel, you must quarantine or test after travel. Secondly, if anyone develops symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they should quarantine and be evaluated, regardless of vaccination status. And lastly, note that this guidance applies only to fully vaccinated individuals. Individuals who are not “fully vaccinated” (at least 2 weeks have passed since the final dose in either a 2-dose or 1-dose vaccine series) must continue to quarantine after travel. And EVERYONE should continue to follow CDC recommendations to wear a mask, avoid crowds, maintain social distancing, and practice hand hygiene.
Clarification from CDC on Residents’ Mitigation Measures
On the LeadingAge small call with CDC this week, CDC provided clarification on what mitigation measures fully vaccinated residents should be practicing. In the long-term care setting, fully vaccinated residents should continue to follow CDC guidance for healthcare settings to practice universal source control, meaning masking, social distancing, hand hygiene, etc. When a fully vaccinated resident leaves the nursing home for a social excursion, such as going out to visit family, residents should follow CDC’s interim public health recommendations for fully vaccinated people. That means that a fully vaccinated resident can visit with her fully-vaccinated son and his family in his home in the community and will not need to wear a mask or social distance during the visit.
LEADINGAGE KANSAS NEWS
Honoring the Individuals We Lost During the Pandemic
We are seeking the names of residents, staff and those you would like to recognize as loved ones that we lost this past year during the pandemic. We will be holding a moment of silence/prayer and honoring their lives during our upcoming Virtual Spring Conference on April 26th at 10:45 AM. Please send names to Dana Weaver at dana@leadingagekansas.org by Friday, April 23rd at 3 PM.
Join us for Our Friday Webinar
Jump on each week for information and updates about the coronavirus, Fridays at 10 AM. Register here.
LEADINGAGE NATIONAL NEWS
Coronavirus Policy Update at 2:30 PM Central Today and Thursday
Today, LeadingAge member Mark Beggs will talk about how his team opened up their dining room and other activities with minimal social distancing. On Thursday, Stuart Butler from the Brookings Institute will talk about what the future of long-term care could look like after the pandemic. Register today to join us.
RESOURCES
Resources for Employers Related to COVID Stress, Vaccine Confidence
Stephen Massey, Managing Director of the Health Action Alliance, an initiative to strengthen and support the business response to COVID-19, improve health equity and help rebuild public health, joined the Coronavirus Update Call today. He offered all LeadingAge members access to the Alliance’s resources, including those for small businesses. The Health Action Alliance brings businesses together with public health organizations, media, non-profits, government agencies and other partners to improve health outcomes and build stronger communities.
