{"id":131612,"date":"2020-05-28T15:54:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-28T20:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=131612"},"modified":"2020-05-28T15:54:39","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T20:54:39","slug":"state-testing-assisted-living-visits-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2020\/05\/28\/state-testing-assisted-living-visits-updated\/","title":{"rendered":"State testing, assisted living visits updated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

VW independent\/submitted information<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COLUMBUS — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted provided the following updates Thursday n Ohio’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mike DeWine<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Pharmacy testing<\/strong>
Governor DeWine announced Thursday that the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy has clarified rules that allow pharmacists to order and administer tests for COVID-19.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“As frontline health care providers, pharmacies are critical in our state\u2019s response to this pandemic,” said Governor DeWine. “I have asked the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to make sure that Ohio pharmacies have what they need to test for COVID-19.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help Ohioans find testing locations, a map has been added to coronavirus.ohio.gov<\/a> that lists COVID-19 testing centers in Ohio. The map includes links to community health centers and pharmacy sites to assist citizens in finding information about how to get a test referral or schedule an appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updated priority testing<\/strong>
Ohio has utilized COVID-19 testing priorities to manage limited testing capacity. \u00a0Under the guidance of clinical experts, Governor DeWine announced that Ohio has modified these groups in light of changes in testing availability and evolving knowledge of COVID-19 and its impact on Ohioans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testing must be first available to individuals described in Priority Groups 1, 2 and 3<\/a>, but Ohio is expanding to allow partners and communities to test Ohioans in Priority Group 4 which includes testing \u201cIndividuals in the community to decrease community spread, including individuals with symptoms who do not meet any of the above categories.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Expanded test availability will allow individuals in lower-risk tiers to be tested and to help further contain and respond to COVID-19 in Ohio,” said Governor DeWine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Assisted living visitation<\/strong>
Governor DeWine announced a plan to lift restrictions on visitation at assisted living homes in Ohio.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beginning on June 8, properly prepared assisted living facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities can begin to allow outdoor visitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lifted restrictions do not yet apply to nursing homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We will continue to examine, monitor, and adjust as we carefully and thoughtfully lift restrictions on visitation,” said Governor DeWine. “The well-being of our residents has been, and remains, central to our decision-making.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision to move forward with outdoor visitation for assisting living facilities and intermediate care facilities was made while considering requests from families and residents and considering the impact on the quality of life a prolonged loss of connection can have on an individual. Advocates and providers in the aging and development disabilities communities were also consulted, and guidelines for visitation were jointly developed by the Academy for Senior Health Sciences, Leading Age Ohio, the Ohio Assisted Living Association, the Ohio Health Care Association, and the Ohio Medical Director\u2019s Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because each facility is different, each facility can determine how to best implement outdoor visitations, however, at a minimum, all facilities must develop a policy that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n