Wake Forest, NC State health officials said Thursday that nursing homes in North Carolina could start relocating visitors.
Since March, visitors have generally been banned from nursing homes from restricting the spread of the coronavirus to the very vulnerable population inside. The only exceptions were when residents were close to death so family members could see them one last time.
But the state Department of Health and Human Services said coronavirus infections in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities were “rapidly declining”.
Last fall, North Carolina added about 4,000 cases each month in nursing homes and nursing homes, but the number rose to nearly 9,000 in December and to over 10,000 in January.
The number has now returned to levels close to those seen last fall.
Officials said the decline was likely due to vaccination of staff and residents once a vaccine became available.
According to the state, more than 205,000 vaccinations have been administered to long-term care staff and residents since January.
After testing for coronavirus negatively, Paula and Ray Nickola were able to visit his mother at Cadence in Wake Forest on Thursday.
“You do not know how special it is because Ray is not a printer,” Peggy Nickola said as her son and daughter-in-law wrapped their arms around her.
Peggy Nickola said being without her family for the past year was pretty devastating. But she said her daughter-in-law would call her every morning to read Bible passages over the phone.
Ray Nickola said it was especially difficult not to be able to accommodate his mother during Christmas. Like so many others during the pandemic, he had to wish his mother a Merry Christmas plexiglass.
“I’m 62 years old, and this is the first time I’m not with her,” he said. “It was very unusual. It just did not look right. ‘
Peggy Nickola is now fully vaccinated, and she looks forward to spending next Christmas and so much more with her beloved one.
“WIf I have a family that cares about you, you are already far ahead. My children were incredibly wonderful, ” she said.
Nursing homes should continue to follow infection control measures for visitors, such as masks and distance from others. Each facility also had to report no new infections for 14 days before visitors were allowed.
Mark Foreman, executive director of Cadence at Wake Forest, said no virus cases have been reported at the facility, and he does not expect that to change now that outsiders are entering.
‘There is always the opportunity [for infection], of course. “We are not going to lower our standards in that direction,” Foreman said.
“I know it has been a long, difficult year for residents and families, but these measures have saved lives and now allow us to visit inside safely again,” said Dr. DHHS Minister Mandy Cohen said in a statement. “While we need to continue with infection prevention practices, this decline is also a positive sign of the impact that vaccinations have on our communities.”
Visitors should contact a specific facility for more information on rules and policies.