State officials on Friday ordered all staff of North Carolina nursing homes to be tested every two weeks for coronavirus.
The order issued by Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, also provides for funding for the tests through the end of November from Federal CARES Act money the state has received. Cohen said DHHS also will deploy 10 infection control support teams to help long-term care facilities prevent and manage viral outbreaks.
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"Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection," she said in a statement. "These additional testing and infection control resources enhance the ongoing work to guide and support long-term care facilities as they take extraordinary measures to protect residents and staff during COVID-19."
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DHHS conducted mass testing of nursing home residents and staff statewide last month and completed on-site infection control inspections of more than 400 nursing homes.
Cohen noted that outbreaks in nursing homes have become fewer and shorter in recent weeks.