October 16: Visitation Update

October 16, 2020

The Chesapeake COVID-19 Visitation Update 10/16/20

The Chesapeake’s management team thanks all members of the community for the ongoing support and patience. We are excited to share that the most recent round of baseline testing for team members in the health care area concluded with all negative results. As a result of this testing and the county’s current positivity rate as provided by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, effective October 23, The Chesapeake will permit visitations through multiple means, using thoughtful processes which include appropriate infection control measures:

  1. Dedicated outdoor visitation spaces: located directly outside main entrance on the assisted living patio, within proximity of health care center, and at the memory care courtyard
  2. Window visitation
  3. In-room visitation (resident room/apartment)

The Chesapeake management team prefers and encourages outdoor visitation when possible to reduce the risk of transmission. Inclement weather, excessive temperatures and an individual’s health status are all reasonable factors that may prevent outdoor visits.

The Chesapeake will accommodate and support indoor visitation, based on the following guidelines:

  1. There has been no new onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days in the community and the community is not currently conducting outbreak testing
  2. Visitors must be able to adhere to the core principles of infection prevention (described below)
  3. Visits will be limited to no more than two visitors at a time
  4. Visitors will be limited to visit for a specific length of time: maximum of two hours
  5. Community will limit total number of visitors in community at one time
  6. Community will limit visitor movement in the community; visitors will be required to go directly to resident room/apartment for visitation. Movement throughout the community and use of common areas will be restricted at this time. Visitors will need to immediately exit community once visitation is complete

All visitation will require visitors to be screened and logged in at main entrance. All visitors must pass screening questions and have their temperature checked to be granted entry into the community. All visitors will be expected to adhere to infection control protocol:

  1. Mandatory mask use at all times (both visitor and resident)
  2. Social distancing of at least six feet
  3. Hand hygiene with use of hand sanitizer prior to community entrance and after all visitation
  4. Avoidance of physical contact

All visitation will occur 9 a.m.– 6 p.m., seven days a week. All visits will be permitted for two hours or less so that team members can ensure appropriate infection control.

This enhanced process will allow spouses to visit throughout different levels of care within the community, providing an opportunity to reconnect. The Chesapeake will continue with resident communal dining and activity opportunities as previous, however, visitors are not permitted to participate in communal dining or activity functions with residents at this time.

Please refrain from visitation if visitor has any active illness symptoms. Additionally, the management team requests that visitors notify The Chesapeake immediately if they become suspicious of having COVID-19 and have visited The Chesapeake in the 14 days prior to coming into contact or suspected contact with COVID-19.

Please check the COVID-19 communications hub at https://thechesapeake.org/blog/covid19/ for up to date communications.