New guidelines issued for outdoor visits at nursing homes

The state announced new guidelines that would allow family members to have outdoor visits with residents of long-term care facilities in 21 counties, including Quay, as soon as next week.

Earlier in the day, the state also added exemptions to its quarantine rules for New Mexicans who have to travel out-of-state for medical and parenting reasons.

Katrina Hotrum-Lopez, New Mexico's secretary of Aging and Long-Term Services, announced the new long-term care visitation guidelines during Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's weekly COVID-19 briefing Thursday. Nursing home residents in the state have been in lockdown since March because they are considered high-risk for the virus.

For long-term care facilities to host outdoor visits:

– There must be no active COVID-19 cases in the facility;

– Visitors must be healthy and screened for the virus;

– Social distancing is required;

– Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn.

Outdoor visitations must be by appointment with these requirements:

– Using a Plexiglas “chatterbox” window or open-window visits;

– The resident and visitor must be 6 feet apart while wearing masks;

– They must be 12 feet apart if the resident isn't wearing a mask;

– Visits would be limited to monthly.

Outdoor visitations would allowed only in counties where COVID-19 test positivity rates and average daily cases remain low. Just 21 states meet that criteria, including Quay, Guadalupe, Harding, De Baca and San Miguel. Curry, Roosevelt and Union counties didn't meet the criteria.

Hotrum-Lopez said existing visitation guidelines remain in effect and are encouraged, which include closed-window visits or by phone or teleconference.

Lujan Grisham said long-term care facilities in those 21 counties have been instructed to update their policies in light of the new guidelines.

Lujan Grisham, whose mother lives in a long-term care facility, said it remains important for New Mexicans to be vigilant against the disease but saw value in giving a “light at the end of the tunnel” for residents and family members who suffer from depression from no visits for months. The governor said she would not hug or hold her mother's hand, however, when those outdoor visitations are allowed because such actions are unsafe.

Earlier Thursday, the governor's office sent out a news release detailing revisions to the mandated 14-day quarantine for out-of-state travelers.

In the executive order are two new exceptions:

– The mandatory self-quarantine does not apply to New Mexico residents who left the state to obtain medical care.

– The mandatory self-quarantine does not apply to New Mexico residents who left the state for less than 24 hours for matters attendant to parenting responsibilities.

Previous exceptions to the quarantine remain in place:

– Persons employed by airlines;

– Persons performing public safety or public health functions;

– Military personnel and dependents;

– Federal employees;

– Persons employed by a federal agency or national defense contractor;

– Emergency first responders and healthcare workers;

– Persons arriving in the state pursuant to a court order;

– Persons employed or contracted by an essential business, as defined in the state’s emergency public health order, traveling into New Mexico to conduct business activities.

The quarantine requires individuals to physically separate from others in a residence or place of lodging for at least 14 days from the date of their entry into New Mexico or for the duration of their presence in the state, whichever is shorter.

Human Services Secretary Richard Scrase said the state's seven-day average had dropped in the past week. The spread rate also fell to a record-low of 0.72 since the pandemic began, well below the goal of 1.05.

Scrase attributed the fall in those rates to improvements in contact tracing, along with better compliance with masks, social distancing and hand washing. He urged residents to stay at home during the upcoming Labor Day holiday to keep the spread of the virus in check.

When asked by a reporter whether the governor would relax COVID-19 restrictions in light of improving trends, Lujan Grisham said it was “possible” that could happen before the end of August, but it depends on the data. She said she was “disappointed beyond words” indoor dining at restaurants isn't allowed, but “this virus is too risky.” Lujan Grisham said she also is looking for more aid to restaurants.