In mid-July, two nursing home surveyors tested positive for COVID-19. The surveyors didn’t know they were ill when they conducted the surveys, and they were immediately isolated for 14 days once they were diagnosed. The nursing home facilities visited by these two surveyors were notified of the positive results, but not as quickly as we would have liked. The department now has a policy and process in place to notify facilities within 24 hours if a surveyor tests positive for COVID-19. At this time, no positive cases among staff or residents have been traced back to potential exposure from either surveyor.
