Long-term care facilities can use antigen testing and expand indoor visitation under an amended Executive Directive released today by the New Jersey Department of Health. Antigen testing is now a permissible alternative to molecular diagnostic tests in helping facilities to fulfill their weekly testing requirements for staff as well as asymptomatic individuals at the facility’s discretion. Facilities that have antigen testing available are also encouraged to use it as part of their visitor screening process. Visitors who test positive will not be admitted into the facility. Only antigen tests that have received an emergency use authorization or approval from the Food and Drug Administration can be used. Under the updated visitation section, indoor visitation by appointment is permitted in every phase subject to the requirements in the directive. All facilities with no new onset of COVID cases in the last 14 days and that are not conducting outbreak testing may allow indoor visitation, provided they meet other criteria as outlined in the directive. The updated directive brings New Jersey in line with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines.
